Taking the stage, Chalamet first expressed gratitude to his mother, Nicole Flender, who accompanied him to the event. "I was not expecting this at all," he admitted. "I want to start by thanking my mom, who has been working at Actors' Equity for 40 years."
Reflecting on his journey to playing the legendary musician, Chalamet shared that he spent five years preparing for the role alongside director and co-writer James Mangold. "I poured everything I had into portraying this incomparable artist, Bob Dylan—a true American icon. It was the honor of a lifetime," he said.
He concluded his speech by acknowledging his inspirations. "This industry is subjective, but my pursuit is greatness," he stated. "I know people don't always say it outright, but I want to be one of the greats. I'm inspired by legends—Daniel Day-Lewis, Marlon Brando, Viola Davis—as well as athletes like Michael Jordan and Michael Phelps. This award doesn't mean I'm there yet, but it's fuel to keep going."
Chalamet has been in the spotlight for multiple projects this year, leading both A Complete Unknown and Dune: Part Two. The biopic, which explores Dylan's rise in the 1960s, also stars Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, and Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo.
He faced stiff competition in the Best Actor category, which included Adrien Brody (The Brutalist), Daniel Craig (Queer), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), and Ralph Fiennes (Conclave).
Brody's role in The Brutalist as László Tóth, a Hungarian Jewish architect fleeing the Holocaust, has earned him accolades, including wins at the Critics Choice Awards and BAFTAs. Meanwhile, Craig's performance in Queer, an adaptation of William S. Burroughs' novel, has been widely recognized.
Domingo, honored for Sing Sing, continues to gain praise for his role as John "Divine G" Whitfield, while Fiennes' portrayal of Cardinal Thomas Lawrence in Conclave has drawn significant award season buzz.
