If you spend more than five minutes on the "fancast" side of the internet, you’ve seen it. There is this weirdly persistent obsession with Natalia Dyer and Timothée Chalamet being the same person, or at the very least, long-lost twins. It started with a few side-by-side photos of their jawlines and spiraled into a full-blown internet urban legend.
Honestly, I get it. They both have that specific, "Renaissance painting brought to life" aesthetic. High cheekbones. Deep-set eyes. A certain waifish intensity that makes them look like they’d both be excellent at brooding in a library.
But beyond the memes and the face-swaps that look suspiciously natural, there’s a real curiosity about whether these two actually know each other. Are they friends? Did they cross paths at NYU? Or is this just another case of the internet hallucinating a connection because two people happen to share the same bone structure?
The NYU Connection: Did They Cross Paths?
Let’s look at the facts. Both Natalia and Timothée have strong ties to New York City and, specifically, New York University.
Timothée famously attended NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study for a year after he graduated from LaGuardia High School. He eventually dropped out to pursue acting full-time—which, given the Dune and Wonka of it all, was probably a solid career move.
Natalia Dyer also enrolled at NYU. While she was already filming Stranger Things, she made a point of continuing her education at the Gallatin School, the same tiny, niche college Timothée attended. They weren’t just at the same university; they were in the same specific, self-directed program.
Did they ever share a "History of Cinema" lecture?
It’s possible. They’re nearly the same age—Timothée was born in late 1995, Natalia in early 1995. They would have been on campus during the same era. However, neither has ever gone on record to say, "Yeah, Timmy and I used to grab coffee at the Kimmel Center."
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It’s one of those tantalizing "what ifs" that keeps the Reddit threads alive. In a city of eight million people, and a school of 50,000, the odds of two future superstars bumping into each other are slim, but in the small world of Gallatin, those odds get a lot better.
The Look-Alike Phenomenon
You can't talk about Natalia Dyer and Timothée Chalamet without addressing the "sibling" energy.
The internet is convinced Timothée could have easily played a fourth Wheeler sibling in Stranger Things. Mike, Nancy, Holly, and... Timmy? It fits. There was a viral moment a few years back where fans used AI to swap their faces, and the result was essentially just the same person in a different wig.
It’s not just the hair. It’s the way they carry themselves. Both actors have built their brands on being "the indie darling." They have a penchant for fashion that is a bit experimental, a bit gender-fluid, and always very high-concept.
But here is the reality: They aren't related. Not even a little bit. Natalia is from Nashville, Tennessee. Timothée is a New Yorker through and through, with French heritage.
The Professional "Near Misses"
People often wonder why they haven't starred in a movie together.
Fans have been campaigning for years to see them cast in a live-action adaptation of The Secret History by Donna Tartt. If you’ve read the book, you know—they are the literal embodiment of Charles and Camilla Macaulay. The "incestuous twin" vibe (which, weirdly, is exactly what Reddit users frequently point out) is perfect for that specific gothic academia aesthetic.
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So far, their filmographies haven't overlapped.
- Natalia has stayed largely in the Netflix/indie horror realm (Velvet Buzzsaw, Yes, God, Yes).
- Timothée has moved into the "Blockbuster A-Lister" category with Dune: Part Two and Marty Supreme.
Even though they move in similar circles, their career trajectories have been slightly different. Natalia has been more selective, often staying out of the massive spotlight that Timothée seems to occupy 24/7.
What Really Happened With the Rumors?
Because they look so similar and went to the same school, rumors of a secret friendship—or even a brief romance—pop up every few months.
Let’s clear that up: There is zero evidence they ever dated.
Natalia Dyer has been in a long-term, very public relationship with her Stranger Things co-star Charlie Heaton since 2016. They are basically the indie-rock royalty of Hollywood couples. Timothée, meanwhile, has had a very publicized dating history, ranging from Lily-Rose Depp to Kylie Jenner.
Any "sighting" of Natalia and Timothée together usually turns out to be a blurry photo of someone who just looks like one of them. Or it's a photo from a high-fashion event where they both happened to be on the guest list, like the Met Gala.
Why the Obsession Persists
I think we’re obsessed with this pairing because they represent a specific archetype of the "modern actor."
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They both feel accessible yet mysterious. They aren't the "jock" or the "cheerleader" types of 90s cinema. They are the intellectual, slightly awkward, incredibly talented outsiders who became the biggest stars in the world.
When people search for Natalia Dyer and Timothée Chalamet, they aren't usually looking for gossip. They’re looking for a connection that justifies why these two feel like two sides of the same coin.
How to Keep Track of the Real Connection
If you want to stay grounded in fact rather than fan fiction, here is how you should actually track these two:
- Watch for the Gallatin Alumni list: Both actors are often cited in NYU’s promotional materials. If they ever do a joint interview for the school, that’s your "collision" moment.
- Check the casting calls for "Gothic" projects: Any movie involving twins, 19th-century poets, or moody students is going to have their names at the top of the "Wish List."
- Follow the fashion weeks: Paris and Milan are the most likely places you’ll actually see them in the same room. Both are favorites of major houses like Prada and Saint Laurent.
Don't expect a secret sibling reveal anytime soon. Instead, appreciate that we live in a timeline where two different people can have such a similar, specific impact on pop culture without ever actually sharing the screen. At least, not yet.
To see what Natalia is up to next, you're better off checking the latest production updates for the final season of Stranger Things. For Timothée, keep an eye on the 2026 festival circuit where Marty Supreme is expected to make waves.
The real "connection" is simply that they are both defining what it means to be a movie star in the 2020s.