A Complete Unknown stars Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning got in on the meme fun during a recent interview with reporter Tracy E. Gilchrist. The reporter, who was interviewing them for The Advocate, had the internet in a frenzy in November when she went viral after telling Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande she was “holding space” for the lyrics of the film’s song “Defying Gravity,” which prompted Grande to hold Erivo’s finger.
“First, I just want to let you know that I am holding space for you,” Gilchrist told the A Complete Unknown actors, who both said they were starstruck to be speaking with the reporter. “Well, likewise,” Gilchrist said, before the two stars reenacted the finger-holding moment from Gilchrist’s previous Wicked interview.
“It’s an honor talking to you,” Chalamet said. “I feel sort of starstruck.” Fanning explained how excited they were to talk to Gilchrist. “I know, holy shit, this better be good,” Chalamet added. “There’s nothing that we can do that can trump what happened” with the Wicked actors, Fanning said. Chalamet blamed a bit of why their interview couldn’t top the Wicked viral moment on them having “regular chairs” to sit on, whereas Erivo and Grande appeared on “plush, green” chairs to enhance things.
Gilchrist discussed her moment with Chalamet and Fanning with Out, The Advocate’s sister site and the outlet for which her initial Wicked meme interview was conducted. “This viral moment has been the wildest ride of my life, filled with so much laughter and joy. But this moment with Timothée and Elle was hilariously surreal. Before I was even seated, Elle looked up, and saw me, and said, ‘Tracy! Oh, Tracy’s famous.’ She then said, ‘My sister and I do the finger-hold all the time.’ And I’m thinking, ‘Your sister, Dakota [Fanning]?!’”
“Timothée said he couldn’t believe he was talking to me,” Gilchrist added. “And I’m sitting there thinking the same about them; these actors I’ve watched and admired for years. It was an unexpected, adorable, and hilarious moment. I feel very lucky.”
