Timothee Chalamet Talks Preparing to Play Bob Dylan for 5 Years: 'That Was My Eternal Focus'

Timothee Chalamet is opening up about his role in the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic.

The 28-year-old Call Me By Your Name actor spoke to Rolling Stone about how he prepared to play the iconic musician in A Complete Unknown, out on December 25.

During the conversation, he spoke about devoting himself to preparation for five years, staying focused, pushing his limits and what he has in common with the superstar.

Keep reading to find out more…

On devoting himself to Bob Dylan for five years:

“I had to push the preparation, the bounds, almost to psychologically know I had pushed it.”

On staying focused while filming:

“It was something I would go to sleep panicked about, losing a moment of discovery as the character — no matter how pretentious that sounds — because I was on my phone or because of any distraction. I had three months of my life to play Bob Dylan, after five years of preparing to play him. So while I was in it, that was my eternal focus. He deserved that and then more.… God forbid I missed a step because I was being Timmy. I could be Timmy for the rest of my life!”

On playing guitar and singing live on set:

“You can’t re-create it in the studio. If I was singing to a prerecorded guitar, then all of a sudden I could hear the lack of an arm movement in my voice.”

On how his career is similar to Dylan’s:

“If he couldn’t become Elvis or Buddy Holly immediately, he found Woody Guthrie and stuff that was a little more accomplishable, and happened to be really good at it. And that immediately hit a bone with me. … I was knocking on one door that wouldn’t open. So I went to what I thought was a more humble door [with indie roles], but actually ended up being explosive for me.”

On his childhood and how it influences his work:

“I could draw the picture of an unconventional upbringing. I grew up in arts housing, Manhattan Plaza, which is a funky way to grow up. I could try to paint it negatively to you. I could try to paint it positively, but it’s a bit of everything. … I don’t need to point to some ‘thing’ in my youth. Your talent is your talent. The thing you gotta say is the thing you gotta say. You don’t need the Big Bang.”

He also opened up about being told he needed to gain weight for roles.