Cast of A Complete Unknown

A Complete Unknown is a 2024 American biopic film directed by James Mangold, starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan. The film is based on the lives of singer and songwriter Bob Dylan. It is based on the 2015 book Dylan Goes Electric! written by Elijah Wald. The film showcases the singer's journey from his earliest success to his controversies. The film was released on December 25, 2024 in the United States.

The film received positive reviews from critics, and Timothée's portrayal of Bob Dylan was praised for its authenticity. The film was nominated for many prestigious awards, including 3 Golden Globe Awards, 3 Critics Choice Awards, 4 Screen Actors Guild Awards, 6 BAFTA Awards, etc. The film was praised for the performance of its actors as well. Let’s take a look at the cast of A Complete Unknown.

Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet played the role of Bob Dylan in the film. Along with the acting, he did his own singing in the movie. It took Chalamet five years of training to learn how to sing and play like Bob Dylan. The film showcases the early days of Bob Dylan’s singing career and his presence in the folk music genre.

Timothée Chalamet is a popular American actor, born on December 27, 1995, in New York, United States. He started his acting career as a child and made his film debut with the film Men, Women & Children in 2014. He got his breakthrough role as Elio Perlman in the 2017 film Call Me By Your Name. He is best known for his work in Call Me By Your Name (2017), Lady Bird (2017), Beautiful Boy (2018), The King (2019), Little Women (2019), Dune (2021), Wonka (2023), Dune: Part Two (2024), and A Complete Unknown (2024).

Edward Norton

Edward Norton played the role of Pete Seeger in the film. Pete Seeger was a legendary folk singer, songwriter, and social activist. He was the one who encouraged and mentored Bob Dylan in the early days of his career. The film also depicts the controversial moment when Dylan transitioned from folk music to electric rock, which was believed to have upset Seeger, although he denied this many times.

Edward Norton is a popular American actor, born on August 18, 1969, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. In the early 1990s, he began his acting career with stage plays and achieved his breakthrough with his film debut in Primal Fear in 1996. He is best known for his work in Primal Fear (1996), Fight Club (1999), Red Dragon (2002), 25th Hour (2002), The Incredible Hulk (2008), The Bourne Legacy (2012), A Complete Unknown (2024), etc.

Elle Fanning

Elle Fanning played the role of Sylvie Russo in the film. Sylvie Russo’s character is based on Suze Rotolo. She was Bob Dylan’s girlfriend in the early 1990s. She inspired and influenced Bob Dylan’s songwriting in the 1960s, particularly on the album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. The film showcases their relationship and reveals how he was dating Joan Baez and Sylvie Russo at the same time, creating a love triangle.

Elle Fanning is a popular American actress, born on April 9, 1998, in Conyers, Georgia, United States. She started her acting career at the age of 3 with the film I Am Sam in 2001 as the younger version of her sister Dakota Fanning. She is best known for her work in Phoebe in Wonderland (2008), Maleficent (2014), 20th Century Women (2016), All the Bright Places (2020), A Complete Unknown (2024), etc.

Monica Barbaro

Monica Barbaro played the role of Joan Baez in the film. Joan Baez is a popular American folk singer, songwriter, and activist. She played an important role in Bob Dylan’s early career as she introduced him to her audience in the 1960s. In the film, she was the lover and business partner of Bob Dylan. They met each other for the first time at a folk concert.

Monica Barbaro is an American actress, born on June 17, 1990, in San Francisco, California. She started her acting career with minor roles in the 2010s. Her first major television role was in the 2nd season of the TV show UnREAL in 2016. She has worked on many projects like Chicago Justice (2017), The Good Cop (2018), The Cathedral (2021), Top Gun: Maverick (2022), A Complete Unknown (2024), etc.

Boyd Holbrook

Boyd Holbrook played the role of Johnny Cash in the film. Johnny Cash was a popular country singer-songwriter and close friend of Bob Dylan. Both of them respected each other’s music. Johnny Cash's character had a small but memorable role in the film. In the film, it is shown that Cash was initially a pen pal of Bob Dylan, and they eventually became friends.

Boyd Holbrook is an American actor, born on September 1, 1981, in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, United States. He started his career as a model and worked with many brands like Dior, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein, Gucci, Versace, etc. He is best known for his work in Hatfields & McCoys (2012), Gone Girl (2014), Narcos (2015-2016), The Predator (2018), O.G. (2019), The Sandman (2022), etc.

Scoot McNairy

Scoot McNairy played the role of Woody Guthrie in the film. Woody Guthrie is an iconic folk singer who influenced Bob Dylan’s music. Dylan idolized Woody Guthrie, and Guthrie played an important role in his life even before they met, inspiring him to pursue music. In the film, Dylan meets Guthrie at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in New Jersey. The bond between Dylan and Guthrie was a major part of the film.

Scoot McNairy is an American actor and producer, born on November 11, 1977, in Dallas, Texas, United States. He made his acting debut with the film Wrong Numbers in 2001. He is best known for his work in Monsters (2010), Killing Them Softly (2012), Halt and Catch Fire (2014–2017), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Narcos: Mexico (2018–2021), A Complete Unknown (2024), etc.

Also read about: What is A Complete Unknown about?