Timothée Chalamet & Emma Stone | Actors on Actors - Full Conversation

Name: Timothée Chalamet & Emma Stone | Actors on Actors - Full Conversation
Uploaded: 2026-01-02T14:57:18.476Z
Duration: 45 min 33 s
Channel: Actor Timothée Chalamet
Description: #TimothéeChalamet

Actor Timothée Chalamet

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5 Video Views·Jan 2, 2026 #TimothéeChalamet

#TimothéeChalamet

No, but seriously, I feel like I grew up, I mean, we're not too far in age, but I really grew up seeing a lot of your movies. So I felt like. Oh my God, I'm so old. No, no. I felt totally like kind of prepped for this before even getting into it. Jeez. But now I never saw the new Partridge family. Oh no. So what's that? Is that the first gig ever? That was a reality search competition that I auditioned for when I was 15. Wow. Yeah, I had been in LA for three months when I was 15 and I was auditioning a lot and I wasn't getting any parts. Were you staying at the Oakwood Apartments? No, I was staying at Park La Brea. Okay. Did you ever live at the Oakwood? No, but there's a documentary about it that is terrifying. I haven't seen it. It makes you not want to really be in this business. Have you lived in LA? I shot Beautiful Boy in LA, actually. And actually shooting that here, it felt like, oh wow, maybe I'll move out here. This is a great city and a great vibe. And then, I don't know, something, I don't know, like you, the more you, I feel like the more time you spend out here, I don't know, I don't want to get lost in the sea, almost. I want to grow as a human, as a guy. I understand. I feel like in New York or in Paris, or anywhere, really. Like, not anywhere, but New York, I have to think about. But cities where people also do other jobs outside of the entertainment industry. Yeah, exactly. I understand. Have you been in LA, basically, since you? No, I moved to New York when I was 20. Okay. So I've been in New York for 10 years, but I spend a ton of time here. Yeah, but I know what you mean. And then, did you get that job, or that was just an audition? Well, no, you got it, because it's on your. I got it, yeah. No, I won the role of Laurie Partridge on In Search of the Partridge Family. And we made one episode, and then we were not picked up to series. Oh, so it's just a pilot. It didn't work out. Oh, so that footage doesn't exist. It does exist somewhere. But you've seen it. I have seen it. And you're proud. Mm-hmm. Okay, all right. And I wish that you could have seen it, too. No, honestly, I didn't know it was a reality. I'm sad that you didn't get to. No, but it was a pilot. Yeah, it was, yeah, it became a pilot. Okay, I'm gonna rattle off some. But last year, I felt like I was cutting off Daniel Kaluuya-Lhatsa. Tell me if I'm cutting you off or anything. No, this is fantastic, go ahead. Okay, then Superbad, which, at the time, for me, and I'm speaking for guys and girls my age everywhere, that was, that exists in the Mean Girls universe for me, as far as defining a moment for a lot of people. So what was that? Did that feel like a get when you got it? Was it insane being on that set? What was Jonah like at that age? Was it his first gig? Yeah, because he was 23, maybe, 22 or 23, and I was 17, and no, it was, I was out of my mind with excitement. I was so, so, so happy to do that. I also worked for eight days on that movie, but it felt like eight months. Oh, really? Yeah, it feels like, do you laugh at it? Do you think it's funny? I love it. Okay, good. I love it so much. Have you seen it recently? I just watched it two weeks ago, actually. I think it's, like, Michael Cera's so excellent in that movie, too, and he's so good at, like, not, like, he's like, yeah, I'm gonna be. I know, he's so good, and Martha, who played Michael's love interest, became my best friend, and she's my best friend. Who plays? Martha MacIsaac. Oh, really? And you met her on that? Yeah, I met her on that. Oh, that's really heartwarming. Yeah, we lived together for years after that. Like, as actors, as actresses? Yeah, I was just like. I guess you can say both. Yeah, you can say both. Okay, and then The Rocker, which is not. Stop it. A movie that a ton of people have seen, but I think is ******* brilliant, and it has one of my favorite movie quotes in it, where Rainn Wilson pukes in his hand before a show, and you're like, what are you doing? And he's like, some people rock a rabbit's foot, I rock a pocketed puke, and. I can't believe you're quoting The Rocker. Dude, I love, that I've seen more than Superbad. Really? That I've seen, like, four or five times, yeah. What drew you to that so much? I think Rainn Wilson is, like. That Rainn Wilson is brilliant. Well, no, people know how good he is, so I guess it's not like an unseen genius, but he really is so funny in it. I have to ask you a question now, though, because of Rainn Wilson, because Rainn Wilson leads to The Office, which leads to Steve, and we both work with Steve now. Yes, yes. What was it like working with Steve? What a dream, like. I feel, I realize the more I act, how important trust is to it all. I think maybe that's not obvious. And then I did this, I did Call Me By Your Name with Armie, and I felt so safe. I feel like it's the ability to be ugly or be bad, or like, not be able to weep in a scene where you're supposed to weep, or whatever. And you don't feel like you're getting judged or something. And with Steve, like, it could be intimidating, too, being opposite someone very well-known before you have any sort of career. And he was so, he put me at such ease. And beyond that, he's, like, incredibly talented, and a great human, a great dad, a great man. Like, he'll open, you go to set in the van, he'll open the door for everyone. He always opens the door for everyone, of course, yeah. It'll pass, though. It always does. What does? The feeling of being alienated and isolated. Huh, that really helps. Thanks for the advice, Dad. Because you did Crazy, Stupid, Love with him. Crazy, Stupid, Love and Battle of the Sexes, yeah. But he's been like that since, I mean, he was always holding the van door. What was Crazy, Stupid, Love like? It was so much fun. That would be so good. It was so much fun. It's so awesome. And Ryan Gosling is, like, the perfect man in that movie. He's incredible, and we got to improvise so much, and it was just like. The stuff in the house? Yeah, the stuff in the house. It was so much fun. Whoa, like those Y shots are so epic. You're like, wow, do people really live like this? I don't know if they do. It was an improv. No, yeah. No, that's like a utopic movie, weirdly. Yeah, exactly. That's like a utopia. And Jonah, who's the boy in that, I'm forgetting his last name, I went to high school with him. Really? Yeah, really weirdly. Oh my God. So he came back, and he shot Crazy, Stupid, Love, and all of us other actors were bitter. What, now, was Easy A, did that feel like, did that feel like, okay, now I, did you sense a change or something? Because I feel like I was very aware of you after seeing The Rocker and Superbad, and then it was like, okay, now. I was really in love with that script, but I put so much pressure. I was 20, and I put so much pressure on myself, and was just like, while we were shooting it, I was just going nuts, and I was like, I don't know, this whole thing could fall apart. I have no idea, because I was in, I had to be there all day, every day, and if I wasn't on screen, I was like, narrating, it was just like, too much me, and I was like, this is gonna fall apart. So it wasn't like, the most enjoyable? No, but it was just because of my own, you know. And what was that stress composed of, like, this is my shot, if I mess this up, then? It was kind of like, I just felt like it had to be well calibrated throughout, and it was the first time that I had ever had to rely on myself, mostly, to be able to carry all of that. Yeah, I think it was just, I put so much pressure on myself. And when you saw it, you were? I haven't seen it. Oh, you haven't seen it? No, I've seen some scenes. Okay, okay. But I went to a friends and family screening to see it, and I had to get up and walk out. I was, who wants to watch themselves for that long? Yeah, no, not me. Do you obsessively, can you watch your stuff? I, well, no, I mean, same thing. Because I can now. If I like, if I like what it is, then yes. Like the film itself. Listen, I had a small part in, why did I say, listen, we're sitting right here next to each other. All right, you know what, fine, I will. Like, fine, yeah, I was with you before. But when I did, when I did Interstellar, I saw that 12 times in theaters and IMAX. You did, just to figure it out? Well, yeah. Here, don't you crack that code. That was good. Yeah, I'm trying to figure out the ending, but. Because you loved it. Because I loved it, and in fact, Christopher Nolan had a screening at Lincoln Square. I forgot about this, I really haven't thought about this moment until right now. That underground theater in? No, no, it was in IMAX, it was in the IMAX. Although, I know those underground ones, the red and the fluorescent lights. And he invited just some of the people from the cast, which is surreal, because it's a huge IMAX theater, but it was just like me, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and John Lithgow. And I really had no career at this point, so I was like the fraud, a little bit in the room. And I saw it, and I loved it, but then I went home to my dad, and I like wept for an hour. Why? Because I just figured my part was like bigger, or something. Oh, no. They didn't even like cut anything, I just figured, I don't know what I figured. It just felt so giant when you were doing it. Yeah, that's exactly it. And while you were reading it, you were like. That's it, the sets were so big. Yeah. Also, there's this, I have this monologue in space, that's like, McConaughey's like most brilliant acting in the movie, where he's getting those video logs. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And he starts weeping, and it's really amazing. And the whole thing plays on him, as it should, because that moment's about him, but I'm in the theater, and I was like. I had incredible stuff here. I know. And then it cuts like a grainy computer screen. Wait, so let's talk about up until, I mean, obviously, in the past couple of years, things have been pretty electric for you. But how did you feel, what you're saying, like watching films like that, that you were in, did you feel a lot of dejection? No, no, it wasn't, it wasn't dejection in some part of my brain makes me wanna say immediately, like there was always gratitude to be working, because I grew up in an actor's building in New York, and I know the privilege it is to be able, whether via commercials or anything, to support yourself. And yet, when you see, when I saw Interstellar, and it's like my favorite director, and like McConaughey's just killing it, and he's like so good. And I was there, like I was there. So I don't know what it is, it's a feeling of like, man, I feel like I'm getting close, but the cliches about this business are how difficult the odds are, often, as they are. And I don't know, I know what worked for me, really, conversely, because I went up for all these things, and I tested for Spider-Man, I didn't get it, and like a Tim Burton movie, too, and like these things weren't happening, and I thought, okay, like, well, who knows? Tim Burton's a crusher. I was, oh my God, when I auditioned for Alice in Wonderland, I was like, oh, and then not getting a Tim Burton movie is really devastating. Did you read for him? I mean, this is a pretty esoteric conversation, like, you know the feeling of not getting a Tim Burton movie. No, I do, though. Working at all is fantastic, you're exactly right. But for me, it was Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Oh, God, so good. So, but, and then, ironically, for me, it was like doing more like independent films that, and I feel like that's what helps me not be cynical and kind of inspired about the landscape we're in now, is if like studios control things more before, that's my impression of it. Now, like, people want a mirror in the things they see. They want to like see things shot in a way that don't feel like the sheen of Hollywood is there, so I think, you know, and they want to like see stories that feel real, that's what I think. Absolutely. What do you think? I totally disagree with you. I absolutely disagree. We are totally different pages, but whatever, it's fine. So, just kidding, I think, no, I think you're absolutely right. I think it's an exciting time. There's a lot of shift happening. Okay, I'm gonna pull out my little pathetic piece of paper here. Okay, and then the help. That was, did you know how special, I guess what's my question is, did you know how special it was while you were making it? There was a, the book had been written. Oh, yeah, of course. And the book was so wonderful. So, I think that was, I mean, that was the first time I had ever done something that had been adapted like that. Okay. So, that's, you know, you know that feeling. Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely, yeah. I'm gonna bring it to a little life. Was it different from the book in many ways, or no? It was, no, it was pretty, it was pretty similar. And it was, it was so, it was such a beautiful, we were all in Mississippi together. We lived like two blocks from each other. Everybody spent the whole, it was that, it was the first time I really understood, I mean, I had done a movie called Paper Man, where we were in Montauk in the winter all together, and everyone ate together every night. But I really now understand what it is to have that kind of family away from home and spending all that time together. It builds something. Really special. Yeah, irreplaceable. And then you feel like it helps the acting even, weirdly? I do, because, like what you were saying, if you feel really safe with those people, if you feel like you can be anything in front of them, then there's nothing but, you know, freedom then when you're working. And did you, was it crazy seeing Jessica Chastain like be this incredible? Yeah, and also when she was there, when we were in Mississippi, she was like, yeah, I have like six movies coming out next year, but nothing's come out yet. And I was like, oh, great, sounds like you're doing a lot of work. And then all of a sudden, it was like everything, yeah. And like The Most Violent Year, I mean, that was later, but she's been in incredible things. But really, that movie, I saw that with my sister in Times Square, and like the scenes with Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer, they're all so special, too. And you, I guess that was another one for me, too, like after The Rocker, Easy A, where I was like, wow, this actress is amazing. And I love, no, but it's true, and like I love when people, I haven't like really done straight comedy yet, but even when we were taking these pictures before together. Do you want to? I do, and like I can see you don't take yourself too seriously. You're so cut out for it. You're gonna be amazing. Well, let's cook something up. Please do it, let's do it. All right, we're making it happen. Wait, I had a question for you. You worked on, this is a little bit personal between us, but we have another connection. You worked on the movie Miss Stevens with Jordan and Julia. Yes. Jordan Horowitz produced all of it. Yes. And they just really wanted me to bring that up. No. Because they're wonderful human beings. They're wonderful human beings. And they love you very much. And truly, like I dropped out of college when Interstellar came out to make it a little full circle because I was like, great. Really? I was like, this thing's gonna come out. Before it came out, you dropped out? Yeah, and I was like. Wow. And I'll just. How long did you go to college? I went for a year. Okay. And I was like, I'll ride the path of this. You were just gonna coast. Nope, like it was like not a thing, my part wasn't that big in it, and it was very presumptuous to think otherwise. And I took that year off, and you know. What did you do? Like, I don't wanna, it would be counterintuitive to act like it was more dramatic than it was because people go through, you know, these are still first world problems that people go through way worse. And yet, for me, that was like the scariest year of my life because I didn't have a career. I had tasted enough of this stuff where I kinda could see what it maybe could be, but it wasn't presenting itself, and I wasn't in school anymore, and I had this complex where I was like, oh my god, am I gonna be one of these people that was like happy when they were like 16, 17, 18, and like spend the rest of their life like jaded? You peaked in high school kind of thing? That was my fear, truly. I was like, I'm gonna be like Brad from high school. No, and truly, Miss Stevens is a movie that was really small. Not a lot of people have seen it, but that, and Call Me By Your Name, like for me, if I can speak self-referentially, if that's all right, it's really like Miss Stevens is like the prelude for me, and like Call Me By Your Name's chapter one, Beautiful Boy is like chapter two. That's like how I see it. And Miss Stevens, you know, I went to a drama high school, and that movie's about basically a kid, a teacher and a kid, a kid who like finds himself through drama, basically. And that was really my experience, so when I read that, I remember like, just kind of flipping out. You went to the same high school, didn't you? Yes, yeah, yeah. Wait, did it feel like that? How many people ask you that question? No, but, I mean, here's the thing. It was, there were like people dancing on the tables. That is a thing, you know? That really happened? Yeah, absolutely. What, at lunch? At lunch, and there was like, there's like spirit week, and I can't even bring this up, because people find everything online these days, but like, man, I saw this video the other day of me, like my freshman year of high school. There was like a spirit week like dance contest. What did you do? I like didn't keep all my clothes on, but like, but it's, it's a, it's a. So you're just free to like really express yourself. Yes, and. And it really opened up a lot for you. You were like, I can, I want to do this. That's, yeah, in a non-facetious way, again, like, I got there because my sister went there, and I figured, I went to a really, I mean, I had a bad time in middle school, and like, I figured if I went to an arts high school, it would mean less homework or something, which is wrong. But then, I felt like drama class was like sitting in rows. Yeah. I didn't realize it was like, lock eyes with someone and like, bury yourself, and like, did you do drama, did you ever do any training? I mean, a little, I took like, acting classes. In Los Angeles? No, I didn't, yeah, I did not do any formal training. Like in La La Land? Yeah. Did I do it? Does she, does she not take acting classes? No. No, she doesn't, she puts her, she puts up the old one-man show at the theater. Yes, she does, yes, I did not do a, oh, no, I did not do a one-man show situation. Oh, God. I know, he doesn't come. And then you guys have the argument that's so, like, so many couples go through that, okay. Another one that I saw maybe like, six or seven times in theaters. In theaters, you saw something six or seven times? Birdman. Oh, that makes sense. Bad movies. Oh, yeah. Did it feel like, I don't even know what the question is, like, how, how special was that to work? Did you know how special it was? Yes, and that one was really, really, like, walking a tightrope the entire time, because we had all this rehearsal to plan out those shots, because everything was in one, and then actually shooting, it was just, I mean, I. It was like. It was incredible, but it was also, like, how is this gonna, I mean, Michael Keaton was like, I can't even believe what he pulled off in that movie. It's amazing. I love that argument scene. You just smoked a joint in there, and your eyes were glassy a little bit. I hoped I might be employed here by you, as something, a monster for the children to play with, perhaps. Yes, if you like. Okay, and now this year, this movie is the favorite, and I wanna know what. What, sorry, what? You're doing such a good job. I'm trying. I feel like I'm on 60 Minutes. So, your ghost, I wanna know what, was that, was it as basic as an email with an attachment, or was it an agent making you aware of the project? Because I know from the outside, I don't know if it came out when I was in high school, but when The Lobster came out, I know my friends and I were like, what is this movie, and who has made this? Then Killing the Sacred Deer came out, and it was like, this man's a genius. We don't know what he's. What is he thinking? And then the favorite, like, it's, as I said to you last night, because you ran into each other briefly last night, I was super curious, I find often when there's a wild element in a movie, everything else will be static, so that wild element is especially accentuated. And what I really liked with the favorite, and it felt very bold, it wasn't like Killing the Sacred Deer where it's like, here's the contemporary world, and here's this really weird thing happening. It was like, here's a period piece with this really weird love triangle basically happening. Anyway, so what, I'm sorry, what was the, how were you made first aware of it, and did you know Yorgos' work, and? I was, my agent had met him, told me about him, asked if I could read the script. He was not thinking of an American, I think, at all. I read about that. You auditioned for it. I auditioned for it, and, but when I met him, have you seen his movie Dogtooth? I forgot you ever see Dogtooth. It is bananas. And so I watched Dogtooth, because I hadn't seen any of it. The Lobster hadn't come out yet. Oh, this is a while ago. This is in 2015. So Lobster came out in 2015. So I met him that summer. And I watched Dogtooth, and I was like, this person is gonna be crazy. Like, I don't know what it's gonna be like to sit with him. And then we went for lunch, and he's like very, very lovely. And all of his madness is in his art, which is a great thing, but it's a lot of madness, you know? So I just, then I was just like, I want, just take me. I just, I wanna do anything with him. I still do. I'll do anything with him. I think he's brilliant, and. And he's like crazy. When you meet him, he's really. Yeah. He's like a man. He's a man. Yes, he's a man. But no, he's really wonderful. And was that, did you feel like that was a conscious choice on your behalf to, when I think of movies like The Help or La La Land, I don't know if they literally had studio financing, but they don't feel like it almost, or similar to The Green Book, I haven't seen that yet, but I think as Gretel will say to me sometimes, like the most important things in life are cliches, and like love can be a cliche, and like The Help, whatever. It felt like, sorry. It felt like with The Favorite, I don't know, it was like a tone I hadn't seen you in before, like surrealist. And I saw an interview where you said it was a very conscious choice to have a scene with nudity because you felt like it was, I don't know, true to the script or something, or the scene. So I was wondering, were you like, okay, I'm gonna do this kind of movie now, or rather was it like, look, this is a great director, I'm just gonna work with great people? I truly have never in my whole time working, which is, I guess, longer than, but it's not that long, I guess. Like 12 or 13 years now. I guess that is kind of fun. Have never, ever made a decision because I was like, this is the kind of thing I need to do now. It's always been falling in love with either an element, or now, if you're lucky enough to get to the place where you get to start making choices, which is crazy and so rare, and I know will not last forever, like Will Evans will. Now I try to combine all three elements of the script, the character, and the director, but in different times, it's either I am dying to work with this director, or I am, you know, this script is incredible, or this character is, it's always been about that and not about this idea is important, or it needs to be this big movie, or I need to show my tits, or whatever. Okay, okay, okay. And do you feel like, do you have like an, was it an agent or a manager? Did anybody ever, was it you that was like, I'm gonna be in great things? Or did some, you know what I'm saying? Or did somebody say like, look, you're a great, you're excellent, you should only be in excellent things? No, no. I mean, I've been, I've had the same managers since I was 15, which is really great because we've gotten to talk about everything, and he's like a member of my family. Man, he's seen you. He's amazing. That's so cool. Yeah, his name is Doug, and he's incredible. And we. Shout out Doug, shout out Doug. Okay. What's up, Doug? But it's, I just, I felt, and I don't know if you feel this way, do you feel like you wanna be part of things that you would yourself want to go see or would affect you as an audience member? Not just like, I've gotta play this role because it's. Man, I got one of my best friends, Nick, over there, and it's like often what we talk about is like, I don't want to feel like I'm getting into opera or ballet or like an art form that is slowly becoming less viable because when people our age go to see movies, they're like, you know, it shouldn't, yeah, and it shouldn't, but that's where La La Land or Moonlight or I would hope like Lady Bird or. Yeah, it's. It's bad to reference something you read, but like, you know, but you know, that people our age or young people could see and go, oh, yeah, this is. Right. This is a mirror, like I said, like this is not like yelling at us or something. It's not like an untouchable old statue. And that's the other thing, I feel like audiences respond, you know, it's almost like the way I think about acting, like Joaquin Phoenix had a quote where he says, you know, some actors are worried about different, wearing different scarves or something, and I think that's great, but more important to me than wearing different scarves is like chasing a certain feeling. What that feeling is, I don't know, but I'm chasing it. And I read that and I was like, that makes sense to me. Yeah. And in the sense that I think it's really cool when an actor can shape shift. And certainly you don't want to play birdies yourself, but what's the coolest is when an audience can see like real humanity on screen and really like learn about themselves or something rather than, oh, wow, look at that guy go. And I think that goes for the movies too and for explosions and everything like that. Like, and that's what's cool about all this content that's made now is like, I think more and more stories are made about real ---- and not like, okay, well, that's what that person's going through or whatever. Yeah. God, you're so much more eloquent than me. No, no. You're just sitting here like, please keep talking. I understand why I do things. It doesn't make me any different, all right? I'm attracted to craziness and you're just embarrassed because I was like, you know, I was like this amazing thing, like your special creation or something and you don't like who I am now. Yeah, who are you, Nick? This is me, dad, here, this is who I am. No, I want to ask you about Beautiful Boy. Oh, okay, all right. You have to talk to me about Beautiful Boy. Tell me how that came to you and what, I mean, you are so fantastic. You're so fantastic in everything. And I didn't say about the favorite, you are so excellent in the favorite. Stop it! Josh, we're sticking with this, hold on. You are so fantastic in that film. You killed me and I was just like, I don't know how you are the way you are. It's so, is it just easy for you? What's that? Acting. No, no, no. I mean, really, it just feels like you have, you're one of those people who just like, you can't, like Olivia Colman, who's in the favorite, I was like, this isn't something you can learn. Like, this, I don't know what to do because I can't be taught. It just comes through her. It feels like it does for you. And you're hearing that from you. I'm gonna receive that and take a moment to. But truly, you're so alive and honest in every moment and to see you in that kind of pain was just like, it was excruciating. And so, what was it like? What was it like? That was difficult. It was really difficult and I got, I was aware of it for about a year and I really, nothing I'd been in, nothing had come out yet. So, I knew it was gonna be like, that to me is like my get. Like, everything else I weirdly kind of stumbled into, including Call Me By Your Name and Lady Bird. And that was like the thing that I went into the L.A. audition room and did it again and again and again. And there was a chemistry with Steve. And it felt maybe similar to your Easy A thing as opposed to these other films I worked on where it was like, well, it's gonna be good if it happens to be good. This was like a script. People were coveted and the books were really renowned. And we shot in L.A. and on the stage too. So, all of a sudden it felt like, wow, we're gonna make, it's like we gotta, I don't know, it felt like there was an added pressure or something. And then living the experience, I always feel like I gotta be careful. Like, I don't wanna be an actor who like waves, like sells his struggle or something to validate the role or something because what Nick Sheff actually went through is always gonna be way crazier than what I would have gone through acting it. And yet, just to, you know, sometimes I feel like your mind knows you're acting but your body doesn't know you're acting. Definitely. And to go through those scenes, like when you're begging your father to come home and he says no, like that's, I really can't imagine anything worse than that or that feeling of you are such a chaos in our life, we can't allow you in your home anymore. And, oh well. Do you use, there's some actress stuff. Yes, yes. Are you more drawn to substitution or imagination or does it just depend on the role or the day? I love that question because I think it just, it depends on the role, it depends on the day. I think sometimes I get to set and I'm like, okay, I feel like I'm ready to go today. So if anything, I'm like, chill, chill. Some days, like, if I'll get really in my head or something, I've said it before, but I'll really like before a take, if we ever do something together, you'll see, I'll just be like reaching around everything just so like, I'm so out of my head as possible. So you're present, you know what's beneath you and around you. Yeah, exactly, like a wall or a sharp edge or a corner. What about you? Well, it totally depends on the circumstance and I guess the role, but it's funny that you mention that because I was insanely anxious as a child and a therapist told me once, if you're ever in panic, but they said to me, if you're ever in absolute panic and you can't, you feel like you're out of your body, just, this is a gray chair, this is a table, this is a plant, and you just kind of look around for a minute or two and just say what's real and around you and it really does bring you back into your body. Yeah, and it grounds you or something. But that makes a lot of sense for acting. You just reminded me about that. I really used it in those moments. And we don't have to talk about that because it's not so much movies, it's more like mental health and stuff and I remember reading something about that where you said that when you were younger, you dealt with that kind of stuff and truly, I'm not even just saying this, this was around when, I'm getting manic, it was around when I was working on Miss Stevens that I read that interview and I felt like, okay, you can be anxious or you can experience emotions as a human, even as a guy, and have a career and you can still be successful, whatever that means. And I don't know, do you ever think about, I did this roundtable yesterday with a lot of actors and it's so interesting because there's all these machinations at play now. People have their representatives there and things like that. And yet, when it comes down to it, when you're talking like the other actors we're talking right now, everyone was like a quiet kid in the corner of the classroom. I was not a quiet kid. Okay, all right, all right. I was not a quiet kid at all. Maybe those guys were, but no, I was not a quiet kid. It's weird because I confuse myself with my personality because half of me is a total ham performer, class clown, and the other half of me is a terrified, everything has to be perfect or else the whole world is gonna fall apart. Those two things, and it's gotten a lot easier as I've gotten older, but as a kid, those two sides were so confusing to try to marry because one was way too old for how old I was and one was just being a kid and being hammy. But I was not quiet. It always exploded out of me. I've gotten quieter as I've gotten older even though I'm still not quiet. Were you working as you were still an adolescent? How old were you when you did these things? No, I moved to LA when I was 15 and by the time, Super Bowl was when I was 17 and then it's been pretty much going since then and I just turned 30 10 days ago. Hey, happy birthday, hey, hey, hey, hey. So yeah, so it's been a little bit, how old were you when you started working? Well, it's interesting because I think something happens when you're in New York or LA sometimes when you're young where they have to cast, like they, the industry has to cast out of the city. The collective they, yeah, yeah, yeah. The collective people, and so I think I knew a lot of kids that were going up for things when you were six or seven because everybody's parent, or not literally, but it's more of a common thing and I kind of worked intermittently but I never totally vibed with it and it felt kind of fake and I'm actually happy about that because I think that was probably a good thing and when I got to that high school, I was like, in fact, it was on a day where kids were talking about agents and things and I was like, shoot, I know someone that has sent me on things before, like I need to milk that or I need to like, I need to. So when did you start auditioning in this capacity? I did a play called The Talls in New York about a bunch of tall people. Wait. Literally. Are you on stilts? I don't know. What happened? No, but it's about, it's like in San Francisco in the 70s and like a kind of like a neutered dad is like running for city comptroller and like his family like low-key shits on him and it's just like a comedy of errors kind of thing around there. That sounds great. But I had so much fun doing it that I wanted to see that agent and I was like 15, I went into that office and I was like, you know, like send me on more things this year. Yeah, basically like I'm ready to really do this. But we're the same age, 15. Yes. I know that's when you're like, I need to be. You're like, I am an adult now, I have grown, I'm 15. But that's what I was gonna ask is like, because I didn't, I worked just enough so when I was 19 and I dropped out, I had a weird like desire to be a part of that more. But it didn't stunt me. And then I guess, it's a big cliche, but you see it like stunt people sometimes when they work too much young or something. Yeah, or it's weird, you think people are actually, I just realized this, you think people are being very mature at a young age and then you realize, oh wait, you have the aesthetic of it, but the substance of it, they robbed you, you didn't go to school, you didn't. You're still a kid. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, absolutely. So did you feel like you worked, did you feel like you worked too much when you were young? Maybe this is a weird question, but like. Well, I was like, I think I was really lucky that my first movie, I was about to turn 18 and then things started, but I will say like, I'm wondering how you're feeling, although you seem probably light years more intelligent than I was at 22, but how are you feeling like in this time in your life? I guess you don't know because you haven't been older than you are right now. Yes, true. But at that, because I felt like, because Easy A came out when I was 21 and Spider-Man came out when I was 22 and I felt really, like in that time period, to lose anonymity, I didn't really understand what that would be like and I think as a kid, I had this fantasy that like, oh, that would be so cool, that would be, you know, and it was easily, easily the hardest aspect of all of this, even though I'm so grateful and like, I would never want to do a different job and it's, you know, I know there is a trade-off in that way. It was a really intense experience for a couple years to experience that. How are you feeling with that kind of shift? I think partly because it's not really overpowering or dramatic in any way, truthfully, and like, people stop me, but I, it hasn't been really nuts and yet, I must be honest too and be like, I feel such pride for Calling By Your Name and Lady Bird and that the fact that we made those on like, shoestring budgets and that I went in for Spider-Man, I went in for those things and I didn't get them and those are like, pre-packaged, you will be famous after this kind of thing and those, Calling By Your Name and Lady Bird, they really weren't. Like, we were making like, arthouse movies, so I think that's what helps me is when I get stopped, it's rarely, it's about the movies, like, so no, it's been all right. It was for me too, it's just so fun. It was just, I think it was just the idea of like, your external, because one of the things I value so much is just being able to like, be, you know. You. Yeah, and I completely feel that way now. It was just in that time period where I was like, this is weird. What is all, like, this is so, yeah, it was just this interesting shift. And was it friends or family or just experience No, not all stayed the same. I think it was just, yeah, I think it was probably experience and that the people around me are the same and are wonderful. And that's, yeah. And I don't know if it's been your experience, but I feel like the more, even right now, doing this with you, like, I have met very few bad eggs, I feel like, and I think it's luck too. Like, Steve Carell and Armie Makani and Lily Rabe and Julia Hart and Greta, like, these are great people. But I don't know, that's, I always feel like I gotta voice that because. I've been pretty lucky in that sense too. There's been so many people, and also, yeah, like, people that you become, you work on these things, and I don't think I've ever worked on a film where I haven't made, like, at least one lifelong friend that I'm still in touch with. That's awesome to hear. Do you feel that way? Every variety actor on Astro I do, I make. We're friends for life. There's friends for life now. Okay, good, we're in, we're in. I feel, yeah, I do feel that way. I did a Christmas movie called Love of the Coopers that was awesome, and if the director, Jesse Nelson, ever happens to watch this, I had a great time. Wasn't that with Diane Keaton? Yeah, absolutely. How was she? What a legend. What a legend, and I was going up for a Rob Reiner movie around then. Oh, man, that's awesome. This is maybe impolite to have even said to her, but I was kind of like, would you mind calling him and saying this Christmas movie? But I didn't get it, so it didn't work, but she did, she did call him, so. And that's not evidence of her being a good person. She didn't have to do that, like, she's just a great. Also, what's really cool about Diane is, like, you know, anytime people can be, like, a unicorn of any sort, what's cool about Diane is, like, her fashion influenced her movies, influenced her fashion, influenced her movies. Yeah, I think you're a unicorn. Thank you, I think you're a unicorn, too. I think you're a true unicorn. I gotta say, because I wanted to say it to you before we did this, but I see, like, what you've done in your career, that sounds, like, so self-important or something, but, like, really, what you've done, I see, like, what you and Jennifer Lawrence did, and I think, okay, this is alive and well, like, this industry, and, because you guys, in your own ways, you guys, ladies, have, in your own ways, done, you know, have walked that line of things people are actually seeing, but then also really artistic projects, and it makes me really hopeful, because in unique ways, and then also all your pictures together are so iconic, when we take pictures together, it's like, man, look at all that star power in the picture! Come hang out with us, come on! I can't even imagine, I can't even imagine. She's really awesome, too. She is so awesome. Okay, so, I want to talk about, and you've probably talked about this a lot, but I want to talk a little bit about your preparation for Beautiful Boy, because it was so, I mean, what you were experiencing as that character, who I know is a real person, was immense, so what did that require of you? Well, Felix, the director, he wanted me to lose weight at the top, and. How old were you there? When did you make it? You know, I was 20, I was 21. Okay, so did you make it last year? Shoot, no, I must have been 20. I was 20. How could you lose weight? I know, I know, I know, that's why I said to him, I was like, well, I am skinny, sir, and he was like, but you must be skinnier, and I felt like, well, there's no business like shows. How much did you have to lose? I lost, it was supposed to be 15. Whoa! And then it was 18. Oh my God, no, what did you just not eat? I just, yeah, it's like very hyper-concentrated portions of like nutrients. Were you miserable? You see Snowpiercer? Yeah. It's like the protein goo. Oh no, it's like Soylent or something. So what, did you? Yeah, it's miserable, I don't know. Were you, I mean, is it hard? Yeah, it's hard. Not to be eating? And like you said before, I feel like influenced by my environment a lot when I act, that's why I really don't like to act on stages, I wanna act like with actual tactile, real things, and to just be in that state was like, yeah, it was jarring, and jarring for people around me, especially with the makeup too, I could come on set and I would see Steve and he would, his face would drop. He told me one day, he said no more, he said like, he's like, you can't do it anymore. He got protected. Yeah, and, well, he put me aside like, because you realize like, sag protection's a lot of things, my mom works for a union, so you're so important, but you realize like, you know, it's often not somebody trying to be malicious, they're like just trying to whatever, like get their day done and not go into overtime or whatever, maybe that's malicious, but, but, so there was that, there were the books that I stayed really close to, like a trust process with Steve, just getting to know him, and then like, and then the gift from Nick who said we understand, and David who said like, this isn't a biopic, basically, and like, get this as right as possible, and that was like a big relief, because I thought, okay, forget mannerisms or like picking up a cup in a weird way, and do it, just do it, and then lastly was like, really, it was, say, jumping into it or something. The queen has taken a shine to me, and I will drip poison into her ear regarding you until she is mad with hatred for you, or we can have a mutually advantageous friendship. Count of three, yes or no? Well, if you're so close to the queen, why not just ask this favor yourself? And now, on the favorite, what was the preparation, because we worked the same, I don't know if you want me to bring this up, but we worked the same dialect, coach. Who, Joan or Neil? Neil. Oh. The best. He is so fantastic. And your accents, you gave me such confidence, because, I don't know, was it with Neil on the favorite, or no? It was with Neil. Yes! Yes, yes. Because I remember them on The King, which is a movie I did in the summer, and that's kind of why I wanted to do it, because I was like, wow. Because I feel, I know a lot of British people that can do excellent American accents. Yes, me too. And it's, the pool's a little bit smaller on the American end. But it's also, a lot of British people have gone to drama school and have been listening to the American accent for such a long time. And we're just looking at American things. And we're like, a guy, blah, blah, blah, like a terrible British accent. So the preparation for that, it wasn't too extensive, because we had a long rehearsal process with the Urghos. What's long, like three weeks? Like three weeks, and so it was like horseback riding, shooting those guns, all really bonding and doing kind of theater-ish exercises. And then. That gun shooting scene was incredible. The gun shooting scene, it was so fun. Your face is so amazing in that scene, because I don't know, and you don't have to define it for me, but I don't know, it looks like it's trepidation at first, but then you really lean into it, and it's like, oh my God, is she enjoying this? There's a lot that happens there. She was a layered person to get to play. That's amazing. It was so, I mean, all three of those women, it was just, it was such a dream to read that script. What was Rachel like? Oh my God, she's, man. Maybe the most beautiful person I've ever seen, and so wonderful. At the same time? Yeah. I wanna hear more about that, but she gave me great advice about, you know, kind of like your life becoming public. I met her last year, and she said, if you try to run away from it, you're gonna drive yourself crazy. And like, you lean into it, you might actually enjoy it a little bit. Yeah. And I thought, okay, that's interesting. Yeah. And were you working closely with him on the character slash accent, or was that a thing where you were like, day one, you're like, here it is? With Yorgos? Yeah. No, he does not talk about that stuff. Okay, interesting. He's like, you know, he's very... Because he's thinking about other things, or because he wants... He kind of like lets you do your thing, and then he can gauge it from there, which I'm actually kind of used to that process, and I really enjoy it, because it gives you a lot of freedom to sort of, I mean, I love getting in there, and being really, you know, like really digging deep into the script, character, everything with the director. Right. But that is not Yorgos' way. Okay, okay. It is not his way. It's kind of, you guys find it, and figure it out, and then he will calibrate from there. Because he's giving it to you, or like a sci-fi director is just thinking about other things? No, I think he's just, I think the reason he hires the people he hires is because he trusts them to do what they do with the character, which is lovely, because you feel... Trusted. Trusted, yeah. And then, yeah, there's no micromanaging. But then he's more specific as you start shooting. And then on the... And what was Felix? Man, Felix is a dream, and he made a movie called Broken Circle Breakdown that if you want to weep all day, I implore you to watch that. That's the one to watch? I mean, that's like, it's also a beautiful movie that takes place in Belgium, but has a whole bluegrass musical theme to it. Oh, amazing. No, what a dream. And also, like I said before, I read for him like six times. Yeah. So once he gives it to you, you're like, yeah, I like it. You've given me an opportunity. So, yeah, yeah, I know, a lot of gratitude. And also, that was a tough... There were little moments for the actors to be like, hey, Felix, thanks for a great day, you know? So he was really great with us, because it wasn't the kind of thing where you looked at the call sheet and you were like, oh, tomorrow's like a lighter day. Tomorrow's pretty breezy. It was like, oh, God, like... Then they went through this, then they went through this, so... Yeah. But it was awesome. It's so great. They wanted me to ask a social media thing, but I was really inspired because I feel like eight years ago or 10 years ago, there was this thing where it was all new still, and everyone was like, oh my God, everyone has to be doing this now. Yeah. And I think what I've seen is like with you or J-Wa, or like Beyoncé or Frank Ocean... Well, I guess he's now on it. Well, this group is really... No, I'm sorry. But when people are at a certain level or something, you're not doing it, and I think that's so badass or something. I mean, honestly, I think it's more because I would be overwhelmed by putting something out there and then being like, why did I say that? Okay. Were these comments, I think it would just be too much of an influx for my personality. Okay. I think it's a sensitivity thing. It's like a sensitivity level thing. Oh, so you're not like, I'm better than this. No. Oh, okay. No, I do not feel higher than that. I really like it, and I think it's great, and I do lurk, but I don't feel... Yes, you lurk, though. You lurk, though. Oh, yeah, I'm a lurker. Big time. But you have it. I do, yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you like it? Does it help you feel engaged in the world in an interesting way? You know what? I like the idea of it. God, I really hope this is not pretentious, but I like the idea of it as like almost another expression of self, and rather than like, here's my career, like being like, you know, like, here's some clues. And here's some thoughts I have. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, no, it's nice. Yeah.