Timothee Chalamet-mania! Curly mopped Wonka star, who has ‘great feminine energy’, is proving delicious to fans at the film’s global premieres – and dating Kylie Jenner means her followers adore him too

• Read more:  Wonka first reactions: Timothee Chalamet praised for ‘charming, pitch-perfect performance’ in early reviews for the ‘surprisingly good’ origin tale

With the global premieres for Wonka – Hollywood’s latest take on the world’s most famous fictional chocolatier – well underway, it’s clear that Timothee Chalamet is one of the hottest stars on the planet right now. 

At London’s Royal Festival Hall on Tuesday evening, the French-American star, dressed in a Wonka-esque pink velour suit, was welcomed by hundreds of fans – who queued in plummeting temperatures – as he made his way to the UK premiere of the Warner Bros Pictures film. 

The 27-year-old actor, who’s quietly dating Kylie Jenner, shot to fame in Call me by your Name, Luca Guadagnino’s film about a gay summer romance in 2017. 

Six years on, the curly haired, chisel-jawed, fashion-loving actor – with ‘non threatening energy’ – is at the peak of his cinematic powers, but still took plenty of time to pose for selfies with legions of fans. 

It was the same story in Tokyo. This time wearing a lavender-hued PVC jumpsuit was greeted by a sea of overwhelmed fans. 

Sweet appeal! Wonka star Timothee Chalamet posing with selfies at the London premiere of his new film on Tuesday night; the 27-year-old French American star has seen hundreds of fans turning out to catch a glimpse of him at the global premieres so far

The star didn’t go into the premiere until he’d stopped for dozens of selfies, often holding the camera phones of those desperate for a snap with him.

So, what’s the appeal of the down-to-earth star who grew up in New York and is famously close to his family? 

Brand expert Emily Austen says not being a classically brooding, over-muscled alpha Hollywood star means Chalamet can count on a wider fan base.    

She says: ‘By all accounts, he’s an unlikely superstar. He is by no means the archetypical alpha male that has previously been heralded as the iconic Hollywood framework for success.’

People love the bilingual New Yorker, she says, because he’s a classic ‘cinnamon roll man’, the term given to a new kind of heartthrob, who offers an erudite two fingers up to toxic masculinity.

In Tokyo on November 20th, Chalamet, dressed in a lavender-hued PVC jumpsuit, spent time chatting with his fans at the film’s Japanese premiere

Chalamet and a fan in London at the UK premiere on November 27th; the star is currently the hottest property in Hollywood

Austen explains: ‘There is something reassuring about his feminine energy; we think he would be nice to us. There’s a vulnerability that he has been willing to show on many occasions, previously commenting that he finds the promotional cycles for his films to impact his mental health negatively. 

‘It’s a Harry Styles-esque energy that is non-threatening, is grounded and allows us to connect with him as an individual.’

His biggest romance yet, with model Kylie Jenner, while being low-key – neither post selfies or appear regularly in public together – has pushed him into a another stratosphere of fame.

Her fans – she has 399 million followers on Instagram – have seemingly fallen for him too. 

Two of the most famous people on the planet…but Chalamet and Kylie Jenner have kept their relationship low key (Pictured, the couple enjoying the tennis at the US Open in New York this summer)

Dating Jenner has seen Chalamet’s fan base increase as her followers – she has 399 million followers on Instagram – get on board with their romance (Pictured at the WSJ Magazine 2023 Innovator Awards in New York)

Says Austen: ‘Dating Kylie Jenner is probably incompatible with flying below the radar. We also feel like we know her, given we’ve watched her grow up on television. 

‘There are few public appearances together, no loved-up selfies and it all contributes to a feeling that they are two people privately figuring out each other, and their relationship. 

‘Kylie Jenner has amassed an enormous following globally, and no doubt fans will be surprised by the pairing – given Kylie previously sharing what her perfect man look and acts like. 

Unstarry: Brand expert Emily Austen says part of the 27-year-old’s huge appeal is that he’s approachable and vulnerable

The star’s strong feminine energy, in a similar vein to Harry Styles, has also seen him reach a wide audience of fans (Pictured at the Tokyo premiere of Wonka)

The raven-haired actor is more than partial to a fashion shoot – posing up a storm for Vogue in September 2022 – and, like Styles, unafraid of outlandish stage outfits. 

When it comes to on-brand collaborations, just like his acting career, he’s often chosen less than mainstream partnerships including with Swedish vegan shoe brand Tretorn. 

As his star has risen, that has changed a little; when he agreed to represent Chanel Bleu this year, a certain Martin Scorsese directed the accompanying film. 

The star is famously close to his family too – growing up in the Big Apple with his French father Marc, New Yorker mother Nicole Flender and sister Pauline. 

Says Austen: ‘He has spoken often about his connection with his family, and ultimately, that makes him incredibly relatable. 

Connected: Chalamet is famously close to his family, sister Pauline, his French father Marc and New Yorker mother Nicole

Early break: The star shot to fame in Call me by your Name, Luca Guadagnino’s film about a gay summer romance six years ago when he was just 21

‘In his unusual style, Timothee has remained authentic – seemingly unchanged by fame and stardom.

‘He’s breaking boundaries quietly. He’s not a shouty activist. He is showing up for things that are important to him, and within all of his huge fandom, he appears as the same person he was before. 

‘There’s much likability in the idea of someone unchanged by fame and tethered to reality. In many ways, Timothee is the underdog story, and he’s giving hope to a number of people who have felt that they didn’t fit into what society has told us to be.’

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