Kevin O’Leary shares how Marty Supreme costar Timothée Chalamet is coping with superstardom

It is not every day that a Shark Tank regular ends up swapping pitches for a film set. But that is exactly what happened for Kevin O’Leary, who recently opened up about working alongside Timothée Chalamet on the upcoming film Marty Supreme.

And if you have ever wondered what Chalamet is like when the cameras are not locked on him at a red carpet, O’Leary paints a picture that feels surprisingly down-to-earth.

Even better, he shares the one hobby that helped the two of them click fast.

A grounded star in the middle of a very loud moment

O’Leary spoke with PEOPLE at the annual BAFTA Tea at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. It is the kind of event that is basically built for glamour, status, and a lot of industry buzz. So it is telling that O’Leary’s main takeaway about Chalamet was not about flash. It was about steadiness.

“He’s very well-grounded. He’s a very normal guy,” O’Leary, 71, said. That is a pretty strong statement, especially considering Chalamet is deep into the kind of career phase where fame can get weird fast.

O’Leary pointed to something simple but meaningful: the people around Chalamet, and how close he seems to keep them.“I’ve met his mother. I hung out with her in New York. We had a great time. He is focused on work, and he doesn’t screw around until he’s got it nailed down.

I think that’s a good attribute. He hasn’t let any of the stardom stuff affect him at all. He’s the same guy I met at the beginning. Eight months later, he’s the same guy.”

There is a lot packed into that. It is not just that Chalamet is polite or professional. It is that, in O’Leary’s view, he is consistent. The version you meet on day one is the version you get months later, even with awards, attention, and nonstop headlines.

Watching a method actor up close

O’Leary also shared a glimpse into how Chalamet works while acting. In Marty Supreme, Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a scrappy and tenacious ping pong player who is chasing greatness. O’Leary says Chalamet did not just show up and wing it. He went full method.

“I certainly saw what a method actor is like. That’s not how I work, but that’s how he works. And I think he was fantastic,” he said. If you are used to seeing O’Leary in the Shark Tank boardroom, this contrast is kind of fun. Shark Tank is quick decisions, sharp sound bites, and a strong point of view.

Film acting is a different rhythm. It is slower in some ways, more repetitive, and it demands a lot of patience. O’Leary seems genuinely impressed by the way Chalamet commits to the job.

The hobby they bonded over on set

Here is the detail that makes their connection feel real. O’Leary said they had an easy, ongoing conversation topic that was not about fame or films or business. It was about the joy of collecting and appreciating timepieces.

“He’s a big watch guy. So am I. We have a lot of fun with watches … we talk about watches all the time,” he shared, adding that he might even consider gifting the actor a timepiece should he win the Oscar this year.

This is the kind of bonding that happens when two people are around each other for long stretches and need something normal to talk about between takes. Watches are also a classic collector’s interest. There is history, craftsmanship, design, and status all wrapped into something you can actually wear every day.

It tracks that O’Leary would be into it. It is also fun to imagine Chalamet being just as excited about a detail on a dial as he is about a performance choice.

Why acting feels different from reality TV

O’Leary did not pretend that acting is the same as being on reality television. He has been on Shark Tank for 17 years, which is a long time to be in one role, even if each episode brings new entrepreneurs and new products.

“It’s a new experience versus television. I’ve been doing Shark Tank for 17 years. This is a different game,” he told PEOPLE. What stood out most to him was the story. Reality TV has structure, sure, but it is not built the same way a scripted film is built.

A film can pull you through emotion, pacing, and character arcs in a way that is designed from the ground up.“I’m loving it. It’s different. It’s a unique experience. I’m enjoying it a lot … And I think the difference between this and reality TV is the story.

This is a story that is so hard to put down when you’re reading the script. It translated beautifully into this amazing film. And I predict that I think very good things are going to come from this. It was a wonderful experience shooting it,” he added.

Even if you have never acted a day in your life, you can relate to that feeling. Some stories grab you. You start reading, and suddenly you are way too late because you need to know what happens next.

A Golden Globes moment that tied it all together

Chalamet also gave O’Leary a public shoutout during the Golden Globes acceptance speech, which is honestly a great example of how pop culture worlds are overlapping more than ever. It is also just funny, in a way that feels natural.

“If you had told me when I was 19 years old I’d be thanking Mr Wonderful from Shark Tank,” Chalamet quipped during the speech, referencing O’Leary. “Alright, you’re laughing, so I got away with that. Thank you, Kevin.”

It is a quick moment, but it lands because it is true. A few years ago, “prestige film star” and “Mr Wonderful” did not really belong in the same sentence.

Now they are sharing sets, talking watches, and showing mutual respect.

The takeaway

O’Leary’s comments make Chalamet’s stardom feel a little less untouchable. The headline version of fame is big and glossy. But the day-to-day version, according to O’Leary, looks more like showing up prepared, staying focused, and keeping your personality intact.

Add in a shared hobby, and suddenly this co-star pairing makes perfect sense.

TL;DR

• Kevin O’Leary shared that Timothée Chalamet has stayed grounded despite major fame and attention from awards.
• O’Leary says Chalamet is focused, consistent, and has not let stardom change him over the past eight months.
• Chalamet used a method acting approach for his role as Marty Mauser in Marty Supreme, which impressed O’Leary.
• The two bonded on set over a shared love of watches and often talked about timepieces between takes.
• O’Leary said acting in a serious film feels very different from reality TV, mainly because of the power of a scripted story.
• Chalamet gave O’Leary a nod in his Golden Globes speech, joking about thanking “Mr Wonderful” from Shark Tank.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.