Timothée Chalamet won his first major award for his turn as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown at Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the actor was clearly prepared for his speech—during which he seemingly compared himself to legendary athletes Michael Jordan and Michael Phelps.
Donning a “brat” green top under a leather suit ensemble, Chalamet told the crowd that he wants to be “one of the greats,” and his shock win for best actor was “fuel” to get him there.
“I’m inspired by the greats,” he said, “I’m inspired by the greats here tonight. I’m as inspired by Daniel Day Lewis, Marlon Brando, and Viola Davis, as I am by Michael Jordan and Michael Phelps and I want to be up there,” he continued.
Elsewhere in his speech, which, though seemingly heartfelt, smacked of several practice runs, Chalamet called Dylan “a true American hero” and noted that playing him was the “honor of a lifetime.” Chalamet is also nominated for best actor at the Oscars, where he’ll be competing against Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), and Adrien Brody (The Brutalist).
Very few awards race predictions show Chalamet beating Brody or Fiennes at the Oscars, despite his efforts. Chalamet’s been described as perhaps going a little too method while in character to play Dylan, according to his co-stars.
“I know the classiest thing would be to downplay the effort that went into this role and how much this means to me, but the truth is this was five and a half years of my life,” he said on the SAG stage. “I can’t downplay the significance of this award because it means the most to me,” he went on.
“And I know we’re in a subjective business, but the truth is I’m really in pursuit of greatness. I know people don’t usually talk like that but I want to be one of the greats.” Chalamet acknowledged the film’s cast and crew for “giving it their all” for “a biopic,” since biopics may seem like a “tired” genre.
After all, he reiterated in his bright green shirt, they helped him get one step closer to becoming part of the pantheon of greatest performers of all time. “This [award] doesn’t signify that,” he said, “but it’s a little more fuel, it’s a little more ammo to keep going.”
