Chalamet: The Academy’s Golden Boy

Dana Shugrue, Online Editor

Photo from Wikipedia

Since 2014, Timothée Chalamet hasn’t been a stranger to red carpets, flashing cameras and high-ranking award nominations. With supporting roles in highly acclaimed films “Interstellar” (2014) and “Lady Bird” (2017) and a lead role in “Call Me By Your Name” (2018), the 24-year-old actor has become a household name in Hollywood.

That isn’t to say Chalamet’s talent has been appreciated from the beginning of his career until now. In fact, “Beautiful Boy” (2018) was considered a “flop” by audiences and critics alike, and “Love the Coopers” (2015) was an ill-received Christmas movie intended for television. Within the last eight years, however, Chalamet has starred in almost 20 films, some of which failed and some that exceeded box office expectations. Now, as supported by his appearance in three Oscar-nominated films, his highs definitely outweigh his lows.

As stated before, his career really began when “Interstellar” premiered in 2014, though his character, Tom, had brief lines and received very little screen time. However, he also played the son of McConaughey’s character, Cooper, which is no small feat.

Three years later, in 2017, he played Kyle Scheible in “Lady Bird,” an angsty high school senior infatuated with anarchy and government conspiracies. Although Chalamet had played teenagers for most of his career, this particular role was different, as Kyle’s character had complex political beliefs and a considerable contribution to the film’s storyline. Unlike many of Chalamet’s previous roles, Kyle was more of an antagonist than a happy-go-lucky pretty boy.

Only two years ago, “Call Me By Your Name” was released, and received high praise from both critics and audiences. Like Kyle, Chalamet’s portrayal of Elio Perlman, an artistic and intellectual teenager, was difficult to pull off. Throughout the entire film, he struggles to accept his sexuality at only 17 years old. This role earned Chalamet an Oscar nomination for best actor, so it’s fair to say that complicated characters are no match for the budding Hollywood star.

In December, “Little Women” premiered in theaters, featuring a dazzling female cast — Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson and Laura Dern, to name a few stars. The sole male lead, Laurie, was given to Chalamet and viewers have not been disappointed. Many believe the actor’s outward appearance, specifically his jawline and “perfectly windswept hair,” according to Bustle, suit Laurie’s description in Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel. Regardless of appearances, Chalamet’s performance received high praise, and the film was nominated for several Academy Awards earlier this month.

So, what does the future hold for Chalamet? Only time will tell. But if his past is any indication of his present, things are looking bright for the 24-year-old actor.