At a Glance
- Kevin O’Leary says Timothée Chalamet, 30, has stayed “very well-grounded” despite global fame
- The pair bonded over luxury watches while filming Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme
- Chalamet used method acting to play ping-pong prodigy Marty Mauser
- Why it matters: The story offers a rare look at how today’s most-watched young star keeps his life normal amid Oscars buzz
Kevin O’Leary is used to judging pitches on Shark Tank, but in his first movie role he found himself evaluating something different: how a megastar handles the spotlight. Speaking exclusively with News Of Los Angeles at the annual BAFTA Tea at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, the 71-year-old investor said his Marty Supreme costar Timothée Chalamet has managed to stay “the same guy” eight months into filming.
O’Leary’s Verdict: Chalamet Is “Very Normal”
“He’s very well-grounded. He’s a very normal guy,” O’Leary told Marcus L. Bennett.
The compliment carries extra weight because O’Leary has watched the 30-year-old collect a Critics Choice Award and a Golden Globe for the role. According to O’Leary, none of the trophies have gone to Chalamet’s head.
Key points the veteran entrepreneur shared:
- He met Chalamet’s mother in New York and “hung out with her” between shoots
- The actor stays focused on work and “doesn’t screw around until he’s got it nailed down”
- Eight months after their first day on set, Chalamet’s personality “hasn’t changed at all”
Method Acting and Ping-Pong Obsession
O’Leary plays Milton Rockwell, a wealthy New York businessman who develops a complicated relationship with the young ping-pong phenom. Watching Chalamet slip into character gave O’Leary a masterclass in method acting.
“I certainly saw what a method actor is like. That’s not how I work, but that’s how he works. And I think he was fantastic,” he said.
The role demanded physical intensity. Chalamet trained to become Marty Mauser, the scrappy, tenacious table-tennis hopeful chasing greatness.
Shared Hobby: Luxury Watches
Between takes the two men discovered a mutual passion that kept conversation flowing.
“He’s a big watch guy. So am I. We have a lot of fun with watches … we talk about watches all the time,” O’Leary revealed.
The hobby is serious enough that O’Leary is already planning a gift if Chalamet adds an Oscar to his growing shelf. “I might even consider gifting the actor a timepiece should he win the Oscar this year,” he hinted.
From Reality TV to Feature Film
O’Leary has spent 17 years in the tank, but acting in a Safdie brothers drama required a different skill set.
“It’s a new experience versus television,” he said. “This is a different game.”
He told News Of Los Angeles the biggest difference is the narrative pull:
- The script was “so hard to put down when you’re reading”
- The story “translated beautifully into this amazing film”
- He predicts “very good things are going to come from this”
Chalamet’s Golden Globes Shout-Out
During his Golden Globes acceptance speech, Chalamet gave O’Leary a public nod that surprised the room.
> “If you would have told me when I was 19 years old I’d be thanking Mr. Wonderful from Shark Tank,” he quipped. “Alright, you’re laughing, so I got away with that. Thank you, Kevin.”
The moment underlined the unlikely friendship between the 30-year-old actor and the 71-year-old investor.
Future Roles: O’Leary Wants to Be the Bad Guy
Critics and audiences have praised O’Leary’s debut performance, and the entrepreneur already has his eye on the next part.
“I want to be a bad guy and blow stuff up,” he told Marcus L. Bennett. “I’ve sort of made it known and I’ve said it to a few people.”
He has a specific franchise in mind:
> “I got to be the bad guy in [James] Bond. There’s no question. They’re not bad enough. I’ll do a better job.”
Key Takeaways
- Despite winning major awards, Timothée Chalamet remains grounded, according to costar Kevin O’Leary
- The two bonded off-camera over a shared love of luxury watches
- Chalamet’s method approach to playing ping-pong prodigy Marty Mauser impressed the first-time actor
- O’Leary, 71, now hopes to pivot from reality TV to playing cinematic villains
