Timothée Chalamet is sharing that his physical transformation into Bob Dylan for the biopic A Complete Unknown went deeper than changing his hair and wardrobe.
During a Jan. 20 appearance on NPR’s All Things Considered, Chalamet, 29, said he “turned over every stone” — from growing his nails long to gaining weight — while gearing up to play the musician.
Production was delayed due to the Covid pandemic, giving Chalamet extra time to prepare for the role. The actor noted that “what was initially four months” of prep work “turned into a five-year process where I feel I’ve almost turned over every stone available to me now.”
Host Ailsa Chang added, “Just so people understand, you had to learn how to sing like Dylan, talk like Dylan, play guitar like Dylan, play harmonica like him, walk and move like him.”
“Like I said, I’ve turned over every stone,” Chalamet explained. “I did all the work, like you just described, physicality, behavior-wise. But something we haven’t really talked about, I also put on 20 pounds because…believe it or not, I was thinner than the guy, you know?”
A Complete Unknown director James Mangold chimed in to confirm that Chalamet was, indeed, “thinner than Bob,” prompting Chang to laugh, “You had to fatten up to become Bob Dylan. That’s hilarious.”
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When Chang asked “What was the hardest” part of the preparation, Chalamet explained, “It was really a process of osmosis. You know, I don’t have categories. I don’t have a ruler with different sections of stuff that I’m learning. I really try to do it all at once, and my way in was the music.”
“I love this man’s music,” said Chalamet, who performed Dylan’s music when he appeared on Saturday Night Live on Jan. 25 in the dual roles of host and musical guest. Chalamet first played electric guitar and sang a medley of “Outlaw Blues” and “Three Angels.” For his second performance, Chalamet picked up an acoustic guitar as he sang “Tomorrow Is a Long Time.”
As Chalamet said, “These are the songs of life.”
His turn as Dylan netted him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor — making him the youngest two-time nominee in that category since James Dean.
A Complete Unknown is now in theaters.
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