Timothée Chalamet Opens Up About Transforming To Bob Dylan

Timothée Chalamet is no stranger to big roles, but his latest one—playing the legendary Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown—required a serious transformation. During an interview with Theo Von, Chalamet shared his journey into the mind of one of America’s most influential artists. The conversation shed light on the process, struggles, and inspirations that came with stepping into Dylan’s shoes.

A New Challenge: Playing Bob Dylan

When asked about his role as Bob Dylan, Chalamet expressed his excitement but also his respect for the iconic figure he was portraying. “I became obsessed with this man Bob Dylan who’s absolutely—I could just speak about him endlessly,” Chalamet said. The film, which covers a four- to five-year period in Dylan’s early life, is based on the book Elijah Wals: Dylan Goes Electric and aims to shed light on the fascinating complexities of the musician’s journey.

Chalamet, although familiar with Dylan’s music, wasn’t deeply involved with his work until preparing for the role. “My mom listened to it. My friend Tai was a big Bob Dylan fan…he had the harmonica and everything.” Chalamet also humorously compared Dylan’s unique style to modern mumble rap, saying, “Bob Dylan was the first mumble rapper,” adding that his early music had a bit of a “rocky” sound, much like today’s rappers.

Mastering Dylan’s Voice and Persona

One of the most difficult aspects of Chalamet’s role was nailing Bob Dylan’s voice. He had a great dialect coach, Tim Monick, who is famous for working with A-list actors. “He came up with dialect coaching,” Chalamet explained. “I had three months to play this guy and then the rest of my life, I never get to play him again.” Chalamet took his method acting seriously, turning off his phone and staying completely immersed in the role. He calls this process “method energy”—avoiding anything that reminds him of the present.

But it wasn’t always easy. “You gotta put the blinders on… everyone’s got an opinion about Bob Dylan,” he said. Playing such a beloved figure meant the pressure was on. “If I did a bad job, I would have gotten killed. I could still get killed,” he joked.

Bob Dylan’s Legacy and Influence

Chalamet didn’t get the chance to meet Bob Dylan before filming, which made his portrayal even more challenging. “He’s super reclusive,” he said. Despite not interacting with Dylan, Chalamet immersed himself in the musician’s world by visiting iconic locations like the Cafe Wha? in New York City. “It was brutal,” he admitted, explaining how it no longer had the same energy it once had when Dylan performed there.

He also reflected on the relationships Dylan had during that time, particularly with Joan Baez and Sylvia Russo, two women who played pivotal roles in his early life. Chalamet noted that while Dylan’s relationships were complicated, he was always focused on his art. “He was focused on his art first and foremost,” he said, adding that the love triangle depicted in the film showed a more human side of Dylan.

A Personal Journey

For Chalamet, playing Dylan was more than just acting. It was a deep dive into understanding the man behind the legend. “You gotta avoid earworms,” he explained, referencing the need to avoid outside influences while portraying such a complex figure. The experience was transformative, and he was grateful for the chance to tell Dylan’s story, even if he never had the chance to meet him in person.

Playing a well-known icon is only one aspect of Chalamet’s journey through A Complete Unknown; another encapsulates the spirit of a performer whose presence and music transformed the globe. He will always remember this part, which questions the basic notion of what it means to be an artist.