Timothée Chalamet Reveals Co-Star Doubted His Acting During Filming

Timothée Chalamet recently opened up about the lessons he learned from Matthew McConaughey during their time on Interstellar, sharing stories from the set and how those experiences shaped his career.

The actors reunited for a Variety and CNN town hall at the University of Texas, reflecting on their decade-long friendship and the mentorship McConaughey provided.

Chalamet recalled a moment early on in filming when he realized he wasn’t fully prepared for a scene on the farm. “I remember coming to set on ‘Interstellar’ and you saying to me, ‘How does that tractor work?’ I had no clue,” he admitted. McConaughey didn’t let it slide, telling him, “You should know. If you were on this farm, you would know.”

Chalamet said the correction pushed him to do research that night, and he proudly showed McConaughey what he had learned the next day.

The conversation also touched on some of the challenges Chalamet has faced in Hollywood. He shared a story about an unnamed co-star who dismissed his acting ability because he hadn’t attended a formal acting school. “I had an actor do that to me once. No names, but the guy was a punk,” Chalamet said.

The actor had asked about Chalamet’s training, and when he learned Chalamet hadn’t gone to a conservatory, he dismissed him entirely, saying, “Well, you haven’t trained as an actor then.”

Chalamet contrasted that attitude with the support he felt on McConaughey’s sets. The veteran actor advised him that in acting, taking risks is more important than always being perfect. “In the creative arts, it’s not about being right. If you’re right too often, you’re not taking enough risk,” McConaughey said.

He encouraged Chalamet to embrace vulnerability and even the moments where he might feel foolish, saying those are often where the strongest performances come from.

Chalamet also shared a lighter anecdote about a surprise IMAX screening of Interstellar arranged by his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, for his birthday. Though he was initially grumpy about the drive, he said it turned out to be a special experience.

Today, Chalamet continues to rise in Hollywood. He recently earned acclaim for Marty Supreme and is preparing for the worldwide release of Dune: Part Three in December 2026. McConaughey also remains busy with his thriller The Rivals of Amziah King set to release in August 2026, alongside his teaching and philanthropic work.

The town hall highlighted how different paths can lead to the same level of success in acting, whether through formal education or learning on set. As Chalamet put it, real growth often comes from the lessons learned in the moment.

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