A Complete Unknown, the cast: real actors and characters

Ureleased today in Italian cinemas, A Complete Unknown is the highly anticipated Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet. Directed by James Mangoldthe film is taken from the biography Dylan Goes Electric! (in Italian: The day Bob Dylan picked up the electric guitar. A Complete Unknown: Dylan Goes Electric!) by Elijah Wald and focuses on early years of the singer-songwriter’s career American. When, just 19 years old, he arrived in New York in 1961 in the hope of meeting his idol Woody Guthrie and becoming a folksinger like him. In addition to the musical parable, the biopic (approved by Dylan himself) also tells the story of his first two great loves of the American minstrel: the Italian American Suze Rotolo (who in the film is called Sylvie Russo at Dylan’s request) and singer Joan Baez.

A Complete Unknownthe cast of the Bob Dylan biopic: real actors and characters

Timothée Chalamet – Bob Dylan

Absolute icon of music and mass cultureBob Dylan is one of the most important singer-songwriters of the twentieth centurycapable of conquering generations of listeners since his debut as a folksinger in the early 60s. Shrill voice, no-frills stage presence and lyrics capable of winning him (in 2016) the Nobel Prize for LiteratureDylan is the author of songs that marked more than one era. From Like A Rolling Stonea 1965 song that marks the birth of folk-rock, a Things Have Changedan Oscar-winning song from 2010.

Over the decades, Dylan has expanded and personalized his musical style reaching, in addition to folk, many different genres. As country, blues, gospel/spiritual, rock and roll, rockabillyjazz and swing, also mentioning English, Scottish and Irish popular music. Still very active today – over 100 concerts around the world every year –, Dylan contributed significantly to the film, meeting director Mangold several times during the pre-production of the film e jotting down his personal notes on the script.

A look-alike is very good at giving it body Timothée Chalamet who personally sings all of Dylan’s songs featured in the film. An extraordinary interpretation, according to all critics, and that it will most likely give Chalamet his second Oscar nomination after that in 2018 for Call me by your name.

Elle Fanning – Sylvie Russo in A Complete Unknown

Behind the name of Sylvie Russo’s character is actually Suze RotoloAmerican painter and teacher who passed away in 2011 from 1961 to 1964 she was Dylan’s partner. Famous for appearing on the album cover The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan of 1963, Bob and Suze also had an all-Italian love affair. In fact, in 1962, Suze enrolled at the University for Foreigners in Perugia and Bob joined her in Umbria for a few months.

Suze’s presence in Dylan’s life had a strong influence on himboth in terms of topical songwriting and for his way of playing and being on stage. After her relationship with Dylan ended in 1964, in 1972 Suze married Enzo Bartoccioli, a worker from Perugina who occasionally worked as an editor for the United Nations. The two had a son, Luca, who became a guitarist and works in New York.

Elle Fanning plays her, younger sister of the actress Dakota and already alongside Timothée Chalamet in the film A rainy day in New York directed by Woody Allen. Protagonist of the TV series The Girl from Plainville, in the cinematic future of Elle the film Rosebush Pruningwritten by Marco Bellocchio and also starring Pamela Anderson.

Monica Barbaro – Joan Baez

American singer-songwriter, nicknamed “the Nightingale of Woodstock” after his famous performance at the festival in 1969, Joan Baez met Dylan for the first time in 1961 in Greenwich Village. At the time, Baez had already released her debut album and her popularity as the “Queen of Folk” was slowly growing.

The two became friends then, in 1963, Joan invited Dylan to sing alongside her at the Newport Folk Festival where they perform Dylan’s song together With God on Our Sidethe first of an innumerable series of duets between the two. In parallel, while Dylan was still with Suze Rotolo, a passionate relationship was born between the two that would last until 1965. Joan and Bob though they remain friends and in the following years they will continue to perform together on their respective tours.

The emerging Monica Barbaro plays Baezwho became famous in 2022 for her participation in the blockbuster film Top Gun: Maverick. Monica then starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Netflix TV series Fubar, with a second season already ready and which will be released during 2025.

Edward Norton as Pete Seeger

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Born in New York in 1919, Pete Seeger was one of the greatest folksingers in American history. Political activist of the stars and stripes left, before embarking on a solo career in the 60s Seeger was one of the members of The Weavers, a band that was blacklisted by McCarthy for his songs considered “communist”.

Great friend of Dylan and “father” of the protest song which was all the rage in America at the beginning of the 60s, His song is very famous in Italy If I Had a Hammersung in Italian by Rita Pavone with the title Give me a hammer. A yéyé and light-hearted version that had nothing to do with the text and message of the original.

In the role of the legendary Seeger, the good Edward Norton who, like Chalamet, in A Complete Unknown he played and sang with his real voice. An applause-worthy performance that earned the actor American History a nomination for the 2025 Golden Globes as Best Supporting Actor.

Boyd Holbrook is Johnny Cash

American country music legendJohnny Cash was one of the most significant figures of the musical panorama of the 60s. Nicknamed “The Man in Black” for his preference for wearing black clothing, Cash although primarily remembered as a country music icon, ranged from rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folktalking blues and gospel.

Brotherly friend of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash often recorded records together with his wife June Carter and their love story was brought to the screen by James Mangold in When love burns the soul – Walk the Line. 2005 film that earned Joaquin Phoenix (as Cash) an Oscar as Best Leading Actor.

As singer-songwriter Boyd Holbrook, a former model who turned to acting in 2005 thanks to Gus Van Sant who cast him for a role in the film Milk with Sean Penn. Since then Holbrook has played many supporting roles in major films as Behind the candelabra, The Predator And Indiana Jones and the Quadrant of Destiny.

Scoot McNairy is Woody Guthrie in A Complete Unknown

Considered among the most important folk singers in the history of American musicand absolute idol of the teenager Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie was the author of numerous spoken word blues, a style derived from the bluesprecursor to the later protest song. They are found in his repertoire political songstraditional ballads, children’s songs and improvised pieces.

Among his most famous songs This Land Is Your Land which inspired the film about his life This land is my land of 1976 based on his autobiography. Who passed away in 1967, Guthrie is the one who most influenced Bob Dylanboth in music and in themes.

Famous for starring in important films such as Herbie – The super Beetle And Cogan – Killing Them Softly, Scoot McNairy is an American actor who can also boast a leading role in the second and third season of Narcos: Mexico. In the next few days we will see him again in the Disney+ film Nightbitch. Beast of the night alongside Amy Adams.

Dan Fogler is Albert Grossman

American musical impresario, Albert Grossman was Bob Dylan’s manager from 1962 to 1970. Conquered by the talent of the young singer, Grossman invited him to his home in Woodstock in 1962 and there Dylan signed his first recording contract.

After the death of Janis Joplin in 1969, another star in Grossman’s stable and great friend of the impresario, he decides to end music and consequently also his professional relationship with Dylan. The two though they remained great friends until the death of the former manager in 1986.

In A Complete UnknownGrossman he is played by Dan Fogler, an American character actor who starred in several films such as School for scoundrels, Everyone’s crazy about Charlie and the film saga Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

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