The One Star Who Inspired Timothée Chalamet To Become an Actor

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Timothée Chalamet is now a very well-known actor, having worked with acclaimed directors like Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name) and Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Little Women). Despite his success with both critically praised and popular films, Chalamet often credits a performance by the late Heath Ledger as the inspiration for his own creativity.

Timothée Chalamet recently shared that seeing Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight when he was thirteen is what made him want to become an actor. He acknowledged that it might seem unusual to name a blockbuster rather than a classic film like Citizen Kane as his biggest influence, but he believes The Dark Knight was a truly defining movie for his generation.

The film had a huge effect on Chalamet. He wasn’t just impressed by Heath Ledger’s acting; he was also struck by how Christopher Nolan built the entire world of the movie. Chalamet remembered being totally drawn in by the enigma of Ledger’s performance, and the power and unexpected nature of it made him want to become a storyteller himself.

Years after starting his career, Timothée Chalamet found himself in a full-circle moment when he landed a role in Christopher Nolan’s film Interstellar. He played a younger version of Casey Affleck’s character, and the experience was particularly special because Nolan’s films had originally inspired him to become an actor. He felt a deep sense of purpose on set, wanting to demonstrate that he truly deserved to be there.

At award shows, Timothée Chalamet often talks about the actor who inspired him to pursue acting. He once shared a story about seeing a film at age twelve in Times Square with his mother and grandmother. He explained that the experience profoundly changed him, and he felt Heath Ledger’s performance on a deeply emotional, almost physical level.

Even today, as a hugely popular actor, he still draws inspiration from a particular period in film. He’s often said that when he was a young, aspiring actor – before he understood anything about filmmaking – he was captivated by Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker and wanted to create that same level of impact and mystery.

Timothée Chalamet is off to a fantastic start this year, already winning both a Golden Globe and a Critics’ Choice Award for his performance in the sports drama Marty Supreme. The film, about a talented table tennis player, also features Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler, the Creator, and Fran Drescher. He’s also expected to reprise his role in Dune: Part Three, currently slated for release in late December 2026.

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2026-02-02 15:14