Timothée Chalamet Elevates Susan Boyle and the British Greats Debate
Timothée Chalamet names Susan Boyle among Britain’s all-time greats
1 hour ago
Colin Paterson, Entertainment Correspondent, Reuters
Hollywood star Timothée Chalamet is assembling a list of five Britons he considers among the greatest of all time.
"Lewis Hamilton, David and Victoria" he begins, referencing the seven-time Formula One champion and the Beckhams.
"Fakemink" he adds, naming an underground London rapper who recently collaborated with EsDeeKid, the anonymous Liverpool drill artist often linked to Chalamet. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zb9fmbk)
When pressed for more, he offers, "No comment. All will be revealed." Yet his final selection, coming after a moment of pause and reflection, is unexpectedly unconventional.
The chosen Briton is none other than Susan Boyle.
Yes, one of the globe’s biggest movie stars admires the 64-year-old former Britain’s Got Talent contestant, who would later top two U.S. charts with albums of her own.
"She dreamed bigger than all of us," Chalamet explains, without a trace of irony.
"Who wasn’t moved by that moment?" he adds, referring to the 2009 viral clip of Boyle performing I Dreamed A Dream from Les Misérables on Britain’s Got Talent.
"I remember it like it was yesterday," the actor says. "That felt like the dawn of YouTube, you know."
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At 29, Chalamet is adept at using social media to spotlight his projects. His Briton-centric picks are part of a broader strategy to promote his new period-piece, Marty Supreme, a 1950s table tennis drama.
Over the past month, he has been handing out jackets bearing the film’s title to people he regards as noteworthy.
So far, recipients include swimmer Michael Phelps, NFL icon Tom Brady, and Barcelona wunderkind Lamine Yamal.
His promotional run has now taken him to London, where he opened a pop-up shop and is staying in a hotel bar overlooking Hyde Park.
When I asked which Britons would be deserving recipients of a jacket, the surprising Susan Boyle moment emerged.
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Chalamet’s high-energy performance in Marty Supreme has already earned him Best Actor nominations at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. The Oscar race is widely viewed as a head-to-head between him and Leonardo DiCaprio.
The film, based on real-life postwar table tennis star Marty Reisman, features a semi-fictionalized Marty Mauser with morally dubious choices, including a heist and attempts to sabotage the marriage of his top sponsor.
Despite the character’s flaws, Chalamet remains an admirer of the role.
"When you’re in your early twenties, you’re bound to look foolish," he jokes. "And this movie largely explores what it means to be foolish in your twenties, especially when you’re utterly devoted to a singular passion."
Marty Mauser exudes the same self-assurance Chalamet showed when collecting his Best Actor SAG Award this year for playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown.
In his acceptance speech, Chalamet spoke about chasing greatness, naming Daniel Day-Lewis, Marlon Brando, Viola Davis, and Michael Jordan as inspirations.
I asked where that confidence originates.
"It ebbs and flows. That’s part of what keeps me sharp," he replies, revealing a more introspective side than I expected, especially as he sits in a bright green suit after winning at the SAGs.
"It’s a New York mindset: when things go well, you feel invincible; when they don’t, you feel like the world is collapsing," he explains. "As I approach thirty, I want to keep growing into myself. It’s a continual learning curve, and I try not to be too hard on myself or others who are growing too."
This milestone birthday offers a natural moment to reflect on his twenties, a decade during which he earned two Best Actor Oscar nominations and starred in major hits like Dune and Wonka.
A broad, genuine smile lights his face as he recalls the experience: "It’s been great. It feels like a dream. I’m in a posh London hotel, talking about a film I deeply care about. And I get to tease a Scottish colleague about my English shirt—yes, that was a playful jab."
Chalamet’s commitment to his craft is evident. He spent five years learning guitar to play Bob Dylan, and seven years training in table tennis for Marty Supreme.
"I was approached with this project in 2018," he shares, "which gave me six, seven years to prepare on and off. In every downtime, I trained as much as I could. If a Dylan fan or a guitar aficionado sees it, they’ll believe it. Likewise for ping-pong enthusiasts in this film."
His dedication extended to practical setups, even carrying a table tennis table into the desert during filming Dune and engaging in ping-pong sessions between Wonka shoots.
And he’s already hinting at future projects.
"I can’t reveal too much, but I do have a few white rabbits up my sleeve."
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One thing is certain: his love for the cinema runs deep.
In the same month that Netflix announced plans to acquire a major studio, Marty Supreme is set for a wide theatrical release, with no streaming release planned.
Produced by A24, the independent studio behind Moonlight, Past Lives, and The Brute, the film signals a continued commitment to cinema.
"That’s a tough question to answer," Chalamet reflects when asked if cinemas will endure throughout his career. "Streaming has shifted the landscape, possibly reducing the incentive to release films theatrically, which is concerning. Yet I do believe cinemas will survive and thrive—steadfast, not merely as blind optimism."
He sees a responsibility in his generation of actors to adapt the medium rather than retreat from traditional formats.
"Rather than asking how to force people back into theaters, we should show how traditional storytelling can reach audiences in new ways."
Chalamet remains convinced that Marty Supreme could contribute to cinema’s vitality by delivering an original story at a moment when originality is scarce.
"I’m not selling anything here, but I genuinely believe: if you come to see this movie, you won’t be disappointed. It’s like a cinematic slingshot."
Timothée Chalamet — about to turn 30 — seems ready to embrace his inner Susan Boyle and chase his dreams with renewed vigor.
Marty Supreme hits theaters on Boxing Day.
