Timothée Chalamet was unabashed about his career goals while accepting the SAG Award for Best Actor on Sunday night. While celebrating the win for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, Chalamet outright stated he wants to be “one of the greats.”
“I can’t downplay the significance of this award because it means the most to me, and I know we’re in a subjective business, but the truth is, I’m really in pursuit of greatness,” Chalamet said. “I know people don’t usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats. I’m inspired by the greats. I’m inspired by the greats here tonight.”
He continued, “I’m as inspired by Daniel Day, Lewis, Marlon Brando, and Viola Davis as I am by Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, and I want to be up there. So I’m deeply grateful. This doesn’t signify that, but it’s a little more fuel. It’s a little more ammo to keep going. Thank you so much.”
To open the speech, Chalamet shouted out his mother, who’s been working at the stage union Actors Equity for 40 years. He was then similarly honest about what the role and the five-and-a-half years he put into it meant to him, saying he “poured everything I had into playing this incomparable artist.” The actor also thanked his fellow cast members for their efforts.
Chalamet, who at 29 became the youngest Best Actor winner at the SAG Awards, is also nominated for the same category at the Oscars, which goes down on Sunday, March 2nd.
In the meantime, A Complete Unknown releases February 25th on VOD, with pre-orders available now through Amazon and Apple TV. The physical release follows on April 1st and features both 4K UHD Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray options.