u/Grand_Upstairs1006

I’ve seen people discuss Timothée with and e or without it, but either way, there seems to be this idea that if he had continued playing the androgynous “twink” heartthrob, he would have had guaranteed longevity in Hollywood. Sorry to break it to you, but he would’ve fell off in the next few years.

In a few years, he would’ve become an afterthought. His looks would inevitably change as he aged, and a significant portion of the audience that initially became invested in him because of his appearance mainly young women, no offence would eventually move on to the next attractive young actor or simply lose interest. That’s the nature of celebrity fandom.

At the same time, if he had continued building this image that appealed predominantly to women and LGBTQ audiences, he could have risked alienating a large portion of the male audience. And when you’re trying to sustain a career as a leading man, having a broad audience that will actually turn up to the cinema matters. Hollywood needs to know that you can sell a film beyond your looks or your status as a heartthrob.

That’s why I think his shift in image has been so important. Making Marty Supreme, Dune, attending college football games, and becoming increasingly involved with the Knicks have all helped him cultivate a much broader male audience. He’s diversified his fanbase rather than allowing himself to be defined solely by his looks or his appeal as a young heartthrob.

And that’s ultimately what could give him longevity.
The female and LGBTQ fanbases absolutely play a huge role in building up male actors, particularly early in their careers. Look at Robert Pattinson, Leonardo DiCaprio,, etc. Their appeal to those audiences helped establish them as stars. But if you want to transition from being a heartthrob into being taken seriously as a long-term leading actor, you eventually need to expand beyond that initial fanbase.