West Lothian singer Susan Boyle has been named among a Hollywood actor’s “all-time greats,” in a surprise nod that has caught attention across the UK.
Asked by the BBC which Brits he considered to be all-time greats, actor Timothée Chalamet listed a string of famous names, including Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and the Beckhams. But the most unexpected inclusion on his list was Susan Boyle.
Referencing her now-famous 2009 audition on Britain’s Got Talent, where she performed a moving rendition of “I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Misérables, the Marty Supreme star said her willingness to dream bigger than anyone else was something that moved him deeply, adding that he remembers watching it as though it were yesterday, at what he described as the dawn of YouTube.
Boyle’s audition became an early viral sensation, racking up more than 66 million views on YouTube within a week of airing in 2009 and setting an online record at the time. It went on to become the most-viewed YouTube video of that year, surpassing 120 million views.
Although Boyle ultimately finished as runner-up on Britain’s Got Talent, the performance launched her into international stardom. Her debut album, I Dreamed A Dream, became the fastest-selling UK debut album of all time, selling 411,820 copies. She went on to perform for the Pope in 2010 and was named by Time magazine as the seventh most influential person in the world that year.
In the years since, Boyle has released seven albums and toured internationally, though she has remained based in her family home in Blackburn, West Lothian, throughout her rise to fame. She suffered a minor stroke in 2022.
Chalamet, known for his roles in Dune and A Complete Unknown, is currently promoting his new film Marty Supreme, a semi-fictionalised biography of table tennis player Marty Reisman. As part of the film’s promotional campaign, he has been presenting jackets bearing the movie’s title to individuals he considers to be greats, suggesting Boyle may have been among those honoured in this way.
Chalamet’s performance in the film has already earned him award-season buzz, with nominations tipped at both the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards. He is also considered a strong contender for Best Actor at next March’s Oscars, potentially going head-to-head with Leonardo DiCaprio.
