Timothée Chalamet’s rise to stardom hasn’t been a quick ride despite seeming like one to many who have become familiar with him in recent years, and his first breakout role has finally made its way to Netflix. Between the success of films like Call Me By Your Name, Dune, and A Complete Unknown, Chalamet has become one of the most established actors of his generation, taking on projects that challenge him as a performer and finding his audience quickly among the masses. Unlike many stars who break through as children or with a single hit, Chalamet’s rise has been unique.
Long before Chalamet became a leading man capable of drawing in massive audiences for major studio films, he was building an impressive resume of work on TV and in supporting film roles. His early experiences helped distinguish him among the masses of young actors who were looking for their start, as he wasn’t being cast in roles that were expected of someone his age. Rather than playing the teen heartthrob or the standard emo kid, Chalamet was taking on roles with established performers opposite him, giving him the chance to develop as an actor long before his potential was clear.
Chalamet’s work in his younger years included a role that some may be surprised by now, especially considering the type of character he played. His work on Homeland, which is recently available on Netflix, sees Chalamet as Finn Walden, the spoiled son of the Vice President, in a fascinating role.
Timothée Chalamet Got His First Major Screen Role On Homeland
When Homeland premiered in 2011, it quickly found its footing as a series and became one of the most popular dramas of the era. Following CIA officer Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) and returning prisoner of war Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), the series earned widespread critical acclaim and won Emmy awards throughout its first years, revitalizing the prestige drama as the streaming era began. While Homeland was more of an adult series, Chalamet was a part of a storyline that called for younger actors. Chalamet played Finn, the son of Vice President William Walden (Jamey Sheridan) during Homeland season 2.
While the role was a recurring appearance throughout the season, Chalamet’s presence wasn’t the most important piece of the puzzle for Homeland that year. Regardless, he gave a great performance while working with Morgan Saylor, who played Brody’s daughter Dana. With the two carrying an impressive storyline, Chalamet was noticed for his talent while he was on the show, which pushed his stardom into a new place. Establishing himself professionally with the role, Chalamet had the chance to go on to do some massive work after appearing on the series with major talents like Danes, Lewis, and Mandy Patinkin.
Homeland Launched The Careers Of Several Other Actors
Homeland wasn’t just the jumping off point for Chalamet’s career, but for the careers of several other actors who have since become high-profile. While the series was a vehicle for Danes and Lewis, the show’s impressive roster of guest and recurring stars makes it clear just how prestigious it was during its eight season run. Pedro Pascal, for example, was featured in an episode of Homeland season 3 before his career had begun to skyrocket, showcasing his talents within an ensemble cast. Before his appearances on Game of Thrones or Narcos, Pascal appeared as David Portillo on the series.
Nazanin Boniadi also benefited from appearing on Homeland, where she portrayed Fara Sherazi throughout the third and fourth seasons. With one of the most compelling supporting storylines of the show’s run, Boniadi got the chance to showcase her dramatic chops as she moved through the storyline and into others. Fara became a key part of several different stories on Homeland throughout the two seasons she was on the show, and is still a memorable part of the series. Now available to stream on Netflix, Homeland was able to bring some incredible actors into the fold of a tremendous series.
- Release Date
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2011 – 2020-00-00
- Showrunner
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Alex Gansa
- Directors
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Lesli Linka Glatter, Michael Cuesta, Daniel Attias, Alex Graves, Keith Gordon, Clark Johnson, Seith Mann, Tucker Gates, Michael Offer, Guy Ferland, Michael Klick, Carl Franklin, Charlotte Sieling, Jeffrey Nachmanoff, Brad Turner, Daniel Minahan, David Nutter, David Semel, Jeffrey Reiner, Jeremy Podeswa, John Dahl, John David Coles, Lodge Kerrigan
- Writers
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Patrick Harbinson, Debora Cahn, Ron Nyswaner, Anya Leta
