AceShowbiz - Timothée Chalamet took a bold step during his time as host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live last January while promoting his role in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. The actor revealed that he personally invested a significant amount of money to ensure the musical segment of the show was exceptional.

“I spent over six figures out of my pocket to do the SNL performance,” Chalamet disclosed during a discussion with writer and director Richard Curtis at London’s Prince Charles Cinema. This revelation sparked interest as it highlighted his dedication to delivering a memorable performance.

Chalamet elaborated on the challenges he faced in securing his desired performance, noting that even SNL creator Lorne Michaels was initially hesitant about his plans. “Lorne Michaels said, ‘Hey, do you want to host SNL?’” Chalamet recalled. “I said, ‘Yeah, can I do the music?’ He’s like, ‘No.’ I said, ‘All right, I’m not doing it.’ He said, ‘Okay, do the music.’ But I refused to take no for an answer.” His persistence ultimately paid off.

Instead of opting for widely recognized hits from the legendary musician, Chalamet showcased a unique selection of songs, including a vibrant rendition of the lesser-known “Outlaw Blues” from Dylan’s 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home, a spoken word version of “Three Angels” from New Morning, and “Tomorrow Is a Long Time” from Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits Vol. II.

While a representative for SNL did not provide a comment regarding Chalamet’s financial claims, sources from Entertainment Weekly reported that he covered various production costs himself, such as paying the band and expenses related to the set design—typically costs that a record label would usually absorb for an artist.

Chalamet also shared insights into his unique promotional strategies for his films, which have included a variety of creative stunts. He has participated in look-alike contests, filmed a lip-sync video to Dylan’s “Visions of Johanna” at a New York pier, and even transformed the Las Vegas Sphere into a giant ping-pong ball as part of a stunt for Marty Supreme. This innovative approach to promotion illustrates his commitment to engaging audiences in memorable ways.