Last month, the Oscar-nominated Marty Supreme star (30) faced a wave of criticism after suggesting that “no one cares” about ballet and opera.
Theron (50) a former ballet dancer, weighed in on the controversy in a new interview with The New York Times, calling out Chalamet.
“Oh, boy, I hope I run into him one day,” the Oscar-winning Monster actor said.
“That was a very reckless comment on an art form, two art forms, that we need to lift up constantly because, yes, they do have a hard time.”
She predicted that “In 10 years, AI is going to be able to do Timothee’s job, but it will not be able to replace a person on a stage dancing live”.
“And we shouldn’t [expletive] on other art forms,” Theron said, declaring that “dancers are superheroes”.
In 10 years, AI is going to be able to do Timothee’s job
Admitting that “dance is probably one of the hardest things I ever did”, the South African actor credited the art form for instilling in her “discipline, structure and hard work”.
However, Theron further acknowledged that dance is “borderline abusive”, recalling: “There were several times that I had blood infections from blisters that just never healed.
“And you don’t get a day off. I’m literally talking about bleeding through your shoes. And that’s something that you have to practise every single day, the mindset of just, you don’t give up, there’s no other option,” she said.
Timothee Chalamet was criticised for his comments on ballet and opera. Photo: James Manning/PA
The Independent has contacted Chalamet’s representative for comment.
Last month, Chalamet drew the ire of the ballet and opera worlds for negative comments he made during a live conversation for Variety in February.
Chalamet was speaking about viewers’ diminishing attention spans when he said: “I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera where it’s like, ‘Hey! Keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this any more’”.
“All respect to the ballet and opera people out there,” the Dune and A Complete Unknown star added, laughing.