Timothée Chalamet Was Told He Didn’t Have the ‘Right Body’ for Roles Like ‘Maze Runner’ and ‘Divergent’ and Advised to ‘Put on Weight’

Timothée Chalamet is opening up about the early challenges he faced in Hollywood, revealing that he was once told he didn’t have the right body type for the roles he was auditioning for. In a candid conversation with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, published Nov. 11, the 28-year-old actor recalled how early in his career, he was told to gain weight in order to be considered for more prominent film roles.

“When I auditioned for movies like The Maze Runner or Divergent—those types of films that were popular when I was starting out—the feedback was always, ‘Oh, you don’t have the right body,’” Chalamet explained. “I had an agent who called me up and said, ‘You need to put on weight.’ Not aggressively, but it was very clear.”

This advice about his body image wasn’t easy for the actor to hear, especially as he was trying to break into Hollywood. However, rather than changing his body to fit industry expectations, Chalamet took a different path. Reflecting on his early career, he said that this experience helped him find his niche in the industry, particularly in films that offered more intimate, personal storytelling.

“I found my way into these very personalized movies,” Chalamet said, pointing to his roles in films such as Call Me by Your Name, Beautiful Boy, Lady Bird, Little Women, Miss Stevens, and Hot Summer Nights. “For me, it was finding a very personal style of movie,” he said, noting how these smaller, character-driven projects resonated with him and allowed him to develop his craft.

Chalamet’s personal approach to his career mirrors his portrayal of Bob Dylan in the upcoming biopic A Complete Unknown, where he plays the iconic singer in his early years. Reflecting on his connection to Dylan, Chalamet explained that the struggles he faced as a young actor—trying to break free of industry standards—helped him relate to the famous musician’s journey.

“Bob wanted to be a rock & roll star,” Chalamet said. “Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Elvis Presley—that was the kind of rock & roll music that was marketed to kids in the late ’50s. It was saturated and very commercial. And equally, I wanted to be a big movie actor.”

Just as Dylan was trying to carve out his own space in the world of music, Chalamet was learning to find his voice as an actor in a competitive industry. For both, the road to success wasn’t straightforward, and both faced obstacles related to their personal identities and ambitions.

Chalamet’s comparison between his own career and Dylan’s was not limited to the challenge of fitting into a mold. The actor also related to Dylan’s desire for authenticity and self-expression, which has been a hallmark of the legendary singer’s career. Instead of conforming to Hollywood standards of body image, Chalamet embraced the kinds of films that felt personal to him—films that allowed him to bring his true self to his roles.

The actor also talked about his decision to take a different approach to playing Bob Dylan compared to other actors in biographical roles. He acknowledged the work of his “good friend” Austin Butler, who famously transformed for his role as Elvis Presley in Elvis, but explained that he would not follow the same path for his portrayal of Dylan.

In contrast to Butler’s immersive approach, Chalamet felt that Dylan’s style was more about the rawness and the authenticity of his character, rather than mimicking every physical or vocal trait. “I can relate to some of the things he went through,” Chalamet said, adding that Dylan’s story is about finding his place in a world where the music industry was dominated by bigger, more commercial stars. For Chalamet, his own journey in Hollywood also involved finding an authentic path that allowed him to stay true to his artistic instincts.

Chalamet’s performance as Dylan in A Complete Unknown is highly anticipated, as the film delves into the early days of the folk musician’s career. The film is expected to focus on Dylan’s arrival in New York City at the age of 19, his rise to fame, and the personal relationships that shaped his journey.

The actor’s ability to bring authenticity and vulnerability to his roles is part of what has made him one of Hollywood’s most sought-after stars. Chalamet’s early career challenges—being told to change his body to fit into Hollywood’s mold—ultimately pushed him toward more personal and meaningful roles, leading to his breakthrough success in critically acclaimed films.

As for his future, Chalamet is firmly rooted in his personal vision of success, one that doesn’t rely on meeting external expectations. He summed up his career philosophy by reflecting on the projects that have shaped his path: “For me, those were smaller-budget films, but very personal—movies that started in the theater space. This is where I found my rhythm, my confidence, my flow, whatever you want to call it.”

A Complete Unknown is set to hit theaters on Dec. 25, 2024, with Chalamet’s portrayal of Bob Dylan marking yet another step in the actor’s evolution as one of his generation’s most talented and thoughtful performers.