Timothée Chalamet Wears Blurry Contact Lenses and Glasses for Marty Supreme

Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme.
Credit:

A24

NEED TO KNOW

• Timothée Chalamet wore contact lenses that blurred his vision and prescription glasses to correct it in Marty Supreme, according to writer-director Josh Safdie.
• Chalamet portrays a young Jewish-American man determined to win a world championship in table tennis in the film.
• Marty Supreme also features Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin O’Leary, Tyler Okonma, Odessa A’zion, and others.

Timothée Chalamet’s commitment to authenticity for his performance in Marty Supreme extended to the eyewear he donned during filming. Director Josh Safdie discussed this unique approach at a recent panel, revealing that the actor wore contact lenses to distort his vision. This necessitated the use of prescription glasses to compensate for the lenses.

“At the time, we said, we were going to put +10 contact lenses in your eyes, and we’re gonna put -10 prescription lenses in front of them so that when his glasses fall off, he can’t see s—,” Safdie explained. He recounted a conversation with Chalamet, who noted the disorienting effect of the lenses, saying, “I’ve got the +10s in right now, I’m pretty dizzy.”

Chalamet likened the experience of wearing the lenses to being “in a fishbowl,” yet he chose to embrace the challenge. “I’ll do anything you ask me to do,” Safdie recalled the actor affirming.

Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme.

A24

In Marty Supreme, Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a professional table tennis player vying for the world championship in 1952. The storyline follows his struggles to earn enough money in New York City to travel to Japan for the tournament, alongside the complexities of his relationships with family and friends.

Chalamet’s dedication to perfecting his ping pong skills is notable. He revealed in October that he began taking lessons as early as 2018 and continued to train during the filming of projects like Dune and The French Dispatch. His commitment was evident even in scenes of physical discomfort, such as a pivotal moment where costar Kevin O’Leary strikes him with a paddle.

“That’s really Chalamet’s ass — he didn’t want the stunt double,” O’Leary remarked.

Timothée Chalamet in Marty Supreme.

Courtesy of A24

Safdie also mentioned that Chalamet had prosthetic pockmarks, nicks, and freckles applied to his face to give the impression that his character had experience in street fights.

Marty Supreme is currently in theaters. Chalamet has received a nomination for his performance at the upcoming 2026 Critics Choice Awards on January 4, and he is also nominated for the 2026 Golden Globe Awards set for January 11.