Timothée Chalamet Talks About His Oscar Dreams and Keeping It Real

Timothée Chalamet at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.
Credit:

Kevin Winter/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Timothée Chalamet openly discussed his “quest” for an Oscar at a London Marty Supreme event on Feb. 1.
• The actor mentioned he wanted to provide additional “context,” as he feels his views have sometimes been misinterpreted.
• The three-time Oscar nominee had previously made headlines about his pursuit of excellence at the 2025 SAG Awards.

Timothée Chalamet sought to clarify comments he made regarding his ambition for awards recognition. During a recent Q&A session at a screening of Marty Supreme in London, the three-time Oscar nominee, who is nominated again for the prestigious award this March, addressed his earlier remarks about striving for greatness.

In a rapid-fire question session led by British filmmaker Richard Curtis on February 1, Chalamet reaffirmed his aspirations for an Oscar while emphasizing the need for context. “Listen, yes,” he said. “But I want to give you context for that, because sometimes I feel like I’ve been misinterpreted in my quest,” he added.

The actor elaborated that awards “supplement the movie,” explaining that attending an awards show promotes mutual support among nominees. “Everyone’s participating in an advertisement for each other — in the best sense of the word,” he stated.

Chalamet highlighted that his journey toward greatness does not diminish his recognition of fellow nominees. He specifically mentioned supporting several 2026 Best Picture contenders, noting his dual nominations for both Best Actor and as a producer for Marty Supreme.

Timothée Chalamet at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards.

Gareth Cattermole/Getty

“I’m supporting Hamnet and One Battle After Another the way anyone in those movies is supporting Marty Supreme,” he told Curtis. “So anything else, yes, it helps to feed into the narrative… everyone’s pursuing it, you know?”

However, Chalamet expressed dissatisfaction with his previous explanation, admitting, “I didn’t explain myself well there.” He emphasized that he does not obsess over awards, stating, “I don’t want it to be misinterpreted that the world is in the condition it’s in and I’m going to bed like, ‘F— man, I need that [Oscar].’ You know, I’m living on planet Earth.”

In reflecting on his aspirations, the actor remarked on his current purpose and desired legacy. “These days, it’s paying it forward,” he shared, noting that people, especially the youth, need inspiring narratives. Quoting the late fashion designer Virgil Abloh, he expressed a personal connection to living one’s dreams: “I feel like right now I’m in a position where I’m doing it.”

Chalamet concluded by stressing the importance of authenticity in his ambitions. “I’m not shying away from it, I’m not being fake humble where I don’t feel it,” he said. He hopes to inspire others, stating, “So if they’ve got a f—ed up life, they can go, ‘Man, but he’s f—ing doing it. And I want to do it like that.’”

The Dune star first gained attention for his candid remarks about his ambitions at the 2025 SAG Awards, where he won Best Actor for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown.

Timothée Chalamet at the 2025 SAG Awards.

Netflix

In his acceptance speech, he declared, “I know we’re in a subjective business, but the truth is I’m really in pursuit of greatness. I want to be one of the greats. I’m inspired by the greats here tonight.” He expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, “This doesn’t signify that, but it’s a little more fuel. It’s a little more ammo to keep going.”

Despite his aspirations, Chalamet lost the Best Actor Oscar at the 2025 ceremony to Adrien Brody, who won for his role in The Brutalist. Previously, Chalamet was nominated for Call Me by Your Name in 2018 but lost to Gary Oldman for Darkest Hour.