Why we should all be taking the confidence of Timothée Chalamet into 2026
SOURCE:Sydney Morning Herald|BY:Nell Geraets
We’re seeing a slow shift from quiet power to radical assuredness. Is this the key to smashing goals in the new year, and if so, how can we embrace it without giving others the ick?
It’s a great time to be Timothée Chalamet. At least, he certainly seems to think so.
The actor, who stars in the Academy Awards hopeful, Marty Supreme, made it clear in a recent interview with journalist Margaret Gardiner that he believes himself to be a brilliant performer. “It’s been like seven, eight years that I feel I’ve been handing in really, really committed, top of the line performances,” he said in the since-deleted interview.
Timothée Chalamet seems to think he’s the bees knees. Should we all feel the same about ourselves?Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
“It’s important to say it out loud because the discipline and the work ethic that I’m bringing to these things, I don’t want people to take for granted and I don’t want to take for granted.”
We’ve watched many Hollywood stars stroke their own egos before, but Chalamet’s confidence – the radical honesty with which he speaks about his own achievements – rubbed many the wrong way. Some called him arrogant while others described his steadfast self-belief as “delusional”.
But could there be some value in Chalamet’s approach – one that a growing number appear to be adopting as we slowly shift away from quiet power towards something, well, louder? Perhaps Chalamet’s confidence is precisely what we need in the new year. So, how can we express it without giving others the ick?
Quiet power to radical assuredness
Humility is often considered a desirable trait, but several celebrities appear to increasingly favour confidence over modesty. Take Jacob Elordi, an actor who’s arguably become known for his somewhat aloof intellectualism. In 2023, he even criticised his breakout movie, The Kissing Booth, calling it “ridiculous”.
Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian shamelessly raves about her multitasking skills, and Paul Mescal seemingly dismissed Russell Crowe’s legacy while promoting , saying he could only rely on himself.
From Jacob Elordi to Kim Kardashian, radical confidence seems to be the new quiet power.Credit: Getty Images
It isn’t even the first time Chalamet has expressed such confidence. While accepting the SAG Award for best lead actor last year, he shared his “pursuit of greatness”.
“I want to be one of the greats. I’m inspired by the greats ... I’m as inspired by Daniel Day-Lewis, Marlon Brando and Viola Davis as I am by Michael Jordan and Michael Phelps. And I want to be up there.”
Garrett Huston, a psychologist from Clarity Health Care, says what we’re seeing is a cultural shift towards more expressive confidence, especially among younger public figures like Chalamet.
Some possible reasons for this shift, he says, include social media and personal branding rewarding visibility and individuality over restraint, the United States’ cultural influence in media, and generational rejection of traditional norms.
Confidence vs arrogance
Confidence may be key, but there’s a fine line between that and arrogance. Principal psychologist at Enriching Lives Psychology Carly Dober says confidence is believing in your abilities and being willing to take on new challenges.
“A confident person acknowledges they have room to grow and learn, are open to feedback and don’t see asking for help as a weakness.”
Arrogance, meanwhile, is more performative and often involves an inflated sense of self-importance. “Arrogant people have an exaggerated opinion of their talents and achievements. They’re closed to feedback and constructive criticism from others and tend to overreact if someone suggests areas where they could make improvements.”
Is confidence gendered?
Generally, yes. Dober says overt confidence is typically considered attractive and desirable in men, but less so in women.
“Confidence is a trait that’s highly gendered, like ‘bossy’ or ‘aggressive’, and women who step outside that gender script can be penalised socially for this in the job market or in relationships,” she says. “Confidence, though, at its core, is gender-neutral, and the paradox here is that if women continue to feel like they can’t or shouldn’t take up space and be confident, then fewer women will demonstrate this.”
Tall poppy syndrome
Loading
Absolute confidence may make some feel uncomfortable, particularly Australians imbued with tall poppy syndrome (our cultural preference for modesty and egalitarianism). Americans, comparatively, are generally more open to self-promotion.
“Australians generally respond more positively to achievement framed in terms of effort, contribution or teamwork than to overt self-celebration,” Huston says. “Psychologically, [tall poppy syndrome] functions as social norm regulation: keeping people level to help preserve fairness and cohesion.”
However, there are possible downsides to such humility. Huston says it can sometimes discourage healthy self-belief, self-advocacy and the open acknowledgement of success. Without confidence, you’re less likely to begin and persist through a task, not to mention recover if things go wrong.
“To be clear, confidence doesn’t eliminate doubt, but it reduces avoidance, enabling you to get started even with uncertainty.”
The Dunning-Kruger effect
This is a well-established psychological finding that suggests people with lower competence are more likely to overestimate their ability, while more skilled individuals tend to express greater caution.
“In everyday life, this means the loudest and most confident is not always the most informed, and what we experience as arrogance is often misplaced certainty rather than genuine self-belief,” Huston says.
This could therefore be another reason why many tend to steer clear of radical confidence – for fear of ultimately (and somewhat ironically) appearing lesser than.
Finding the sweet spot
So, is there a way to channel Chalamet’s confidence to smash goals in 2026, while remaining relatable?
Dober says true confidence involves avoiding comparison, seeking positive influences, using positive self-talk and setting realistic goals.
Loading
“You have to start practising believing in yourself and talking to yourself like you would a good friend,” she says. “If you believe in yourself, others start to believe in you too. Typically, we go for more opportunities and put ourselves out there when we feel more confident which then in turn allows us to achieve more goals. The lesson here is to shoot your shot.”
Speak with conviction, but remain curious, Huston adds.
“People tend to come across as cocky when confidence feels performative or defensive rather than earned,” he says. “You can express your view without closing the door on others. You can use phrases as simple as ‘this is what I’m thinking. What do you think?’ to signal confidence while still inviting connection and collaboration.”
Grounding confidence in values rather than status also helps. Prove your worth by simply doing the job well, by learning and contributing, rather than by always being the “best”.
Timothée Chalamet’s performance in Marty Supreme has been widely lauded, so could his radical confidence be warranted?Credit: AP
One could argue Chalamet’s comments sit within this sweet spot. He doesn’t just label himself as great, rather he acknowledges the effort he commits to his roles. He also cites other actors like Viola Davis as inspirations, demonstrating a willingness to grow and learn from those around him. His self-assuredness may also arguably be warranted. His performance in Marty Supreme has been widely lauded, with some saying he’s growing into a “generational talent”. So invested in the role is Chalamet that some even believe his self-aggrandising comments were the actor simply embodying his character during press.
So, regardless of how confronting Chalamet-level confidence many initially appear, if you’re able to carefully toe the line between confidence and arrogance and have the chops to back it up, it could see you shine as bright as any Hollywood star this year.
Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.
