Timothée Chalamet on Mastering Table Tennis, Growing Into His Twenties, and an Unexpected Love for Susan Boyle

Timothée Chalamet has never been an actor who cuts corners, and his latest film role may be the clearest example yet of just how far he is willing to go to get things right. For Marty Supreme, a film centred on the world of competitive table tennis, Chalamet spent nearly seven years training to master the sport, turning downtime between projects into an extended period of preparation.

The project first landed on his radar back in 2018, giving him what he describes as a rare luxury in modern filmmaking: time. Rather than cramming training into a few intense months, Chalamet gradually built his skills over years. Whenever his schedule allowed, he returned to the table, refining his footwork, timing, and technique. He speaks about the process with genuine enthusiasm, describing it less as an obligation and more as an ongoing personal challenge.

For Chalamet, realism is not optional. He believes that audiences who care deeply about a subject can instantly tell when something feels fake on screen. That belief guided his work on Marty Supreme just as it did on A Complete Unknown, the film in which he portrayed Bob Dylan. For that role, he spent five years learning guitar, a commitment that ultimately earned him an Oscar nomination. Even so, his table tennis training ended up lasting longer.

He explains that the responsibility feels similar across both films. If someone watching is a lifelong Dylan fan or an experienced guitarist, the performance has to ring true. The same applies to table tennis enthusiasts, who would immediately notice sloppy form or unrealistic play. For Chalamet, honouring that audience is part of respecting the craft.

Now in his late twenties, Chalamet reflects on how his approach to work has evolved alongside his personal life. He says his twenties have been a period of intense growth, marked by curiosity and a willingness to throw himself fully into unfamiliar worlds. Rather than chasing shortcuts, he has learned to embrace slow progress and repetition, whether that means practising chords for hours or returning again and again to a ping pong table.

Away from the demands of film sets and training schedules, Chalamet’s tastes remain refreshingly unpretentious. He has spoken with warmth about his love of music that surprises people, including an enduring admiration for Susan Boyle. Her rise from obscurity to global fame, he says, represents something deeply human and inspiring, a reminder that raw talent and authenticity can still cut through noise and expectation.

That balance between discipline and sincerity seems to define Chalamet’s appeal. He is an actor willing to put in years of unseen work for moments that might last only seconds on screen. At the same time, he remains open about the small things that bring him joy, whether that is an underdog story or a song that simply moves him.

As Marty Supreme prepares to reach audiences, Chalamet’s journey with the film stands as another example of why he continues to resonate with viewers. It is not just talent that defines him, but patience, commitment, and a genuine respect for the worlds he steps into.