Timothée Chalamet Names Denzel Washington and Christian Bale as the Greatest Actors, Shares DiCaprio’s Reaction to His Shaved Head

During a rapid-fire interview with Lucid Motors, Timothe Chalamet was asked to pick the greatest actors of all time. The Call Me By Your Name and A Complete Unknown Oscar nominee responded, Denzels the Goat, Christian Bales the Second Goat and Joaquins the Strange Goat. Chalamet previously acted alongside Bale in the 2017 Western drama Hostiles.

When questioned about the most exciting celebrity to receive a text from, Chalamet singled out Leonardo DiCaprio. The One Battle After Another actor had sent Chalamet a message shortly before the interview. He fried me today. He said, I heard you shaved your head. Say it aint so, Chalamet revealed, referring to his new look ahead of reprising Paul Atreides in Denis Villeneuves Dune: Part 3.

Chalamet counts DiCaprio as one of his mentors in Hollywood. The pair appeared together in Dont Look Up, where DiCaprio gave him concise but meaningful advice: No hard drugs and no superhero movies. Chalamet has reflected on this guidance, noting that while the door isnt completely closed on comic book films for him, he remains selective. Well, Leonardo DiCaprio said to me, No superhero movies, no hard drugs. Which I thought was very good. I follow them both! But the movie that made me want to act is a superhero movie, The Dark Knight. If the script was great, if the director was great, Id have to consider it, he said.

Chalamet also revealed his favorite villain in cinematic history: Heath Ledgers Joker. He has often expressed admiration for Ledgers performance, tracing his own inspiration back to seeing The Dark Knight as a child. When I was 12 years old, after attending one of my sister Paulines ballet performances, I petitioned my Mom and grandma to see Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight with me. We went to AMC Empire 25 in Times Square for a 7:30 screening. I left that theatre a changed man. Heath Ledgers performance in that film was visceral and viral to me, and I now had the acting bug, Chalamet recalled during his Best Actor acceptance speech at the 2018 New York Film Critics Circle Awards.

Chalamets full interview with Lucid Motors is available online.

Author's Analysis: Timothée Chalamet on Influences and Career Choices

In his recent interview with Lucid Motors, Timothée Chalamet offered insight into his cinematic influences and professional guidance. His selections for the greatest actors—Denzel Washington, Christian Bale, and Joaquin Phoenix—reflect a deep appreciation for versatility and transformative performances.

Chalamet also shared personal interactions with Leonardo DiCaprio, describing him as a mentor who advised against hard drugs and superhero films. Despite this guidance, Chalamet remains open to selective superhero projects, citing The Dark Knight as the film that inspired his passion for acting.

Heath Ledger’s Joker remains Chalamet’s favorite villain, a role that profoundly shaped his early aspirations. The actor’s anecdotes underscore how formative experiences and mentorship continue to influence his career choices as he prepares for Dune: Part 3.

This interview highlights Chalamet’s thoughtful approach to his craft, blending admiration for established actors with careful career planning and a selective openness to genre work.

Sources:

• Timothée Chalamet Says Denzel Washington and Christian Bale Are the Greatest Actors, Reveals DiCaprio’s Last Text to Him: ‘You Shaved Your Head. Say It Ain’t So’