Actress Maika Monroe recently looked back on her experience working with Timothée Chalamet early in his career, highlighting his rising talent amid ongoing backlash over his recent comments on opera and ballet. Monroe shared her memories of Chalamet’s audition for their 2017 film Hot Summer Nights, emphasizing the impact he made despite being relatively unknown at the time.
Maika Monroe Recalls Timothée Chalamet’s Audition Experience
Monroe, who starred alongside Chalamet in the crime-romance set on Cape Cod, described the audition process where several actors were tested for chemistry with her character. Referring to Chalamet, she said,
“I mean, I had the part first, and I did chemistry reads with, you know, four different guys, and he was one of the kids that came in.”
She painted a vivid picture of Chalamet’s initial presence, recalling,
“He was this tiny, little, skinny kid, and … he walked in the room, and I was like, ‘I just … I don’t know how we fit, like, romantically. I don’t know if… physically [works]. And he just absolutely, like, blew it out of the water,”
praising his unexpected performance that defied first impressions.
Early Stage of Chalamet’s Rising Fame
Monroe also noted that when they first met, Chalamet had
“just filmed or was going to film Call Me By Your Name,”
indicating he was just starting to build recognition.
“He left the room, and we’re all just like, ‘What just happened,’”
she recounted during the Happy Sad Confused podcast episode aired on March 9.
She expressed strong confidence in his destined success, stating,
“I think he was always just destined for this. I think he was made for this job and this career, for sure.”
Context of Their Collaboration in ‘Hot Summer Nights’
In Hot Summer Nights, Chalamet played a sheltered teenager entering adulthood by navigating both illicit dealings and romance, with Monroe portraying the sister of his business partner and love interest. At that time, Chalamet was an emerging actor, while Monroe was gaining prominence.
Chalamet Faces Backlash Over Comments Amid Oscar Buzz
Monroe’s positive reflections come as Chalamet encounters backlash following remarks he made in February 2026 during a Variety/CNN town hall with Matthew McConaughey. He controversially claimed that “no one cares” about ballet or opera anymore, sparking concern and criticism just as he is being considered for his first Oscar nomination.
