Oscar's Voter Leaves No Doubt With Blunt Leonardo DiCaprio vs. Timothée Chalamet

With the Oscars just days away, one anonymous Academy voter is leaving no room for interpretation about where they stand in the Best Actor race.

Gold Derby's ongoing "Secret Oscar Voter" series — in which Academy members reveal their ballots confidentially ahead of Sunday's ceremony — published its fourth installment this week, and the voter's comments on the Leonardo DiCaprio vs. Timothée Chalamet debate are about as unambiguous as it gets.

What did the Voter Say About Chalamet vs. DiCaprio?

The voter cast their Best Actor ballot for DiCaprio, who stars in Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another as a paranoid, washed-up former revolutionary. Their reasoning was pointed. DiCaprio, they argued, is a major star who genuinely transforms himself into something audiences have never seen before, and that transformation is what separates him from the competition. They acknowledged Chalamet's work in Marty Supreme as a close second, but were clear that his performance simply couldn't eclipse DiCaprio's.

"He's a big star who really transforms himself into something we've never seen before, which is rare among superstar performers," the voter said of DiCaprio. "You really feel like you're inside this shmoe's skin and head."

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Journey to the Oscars: Leonardo DiCaprio says “One Battle After Another” “shows extremity on both sides of the spectrum.” He's nominated for best actor. #Oscars #2026Oscars #LeonardoDiCaprio #OneBattleAfterAnother

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Of Chalamet, the voter was complimentary but firm: "His believable work can't eclipse Leonardo's, which is simply stellar throughout."

The voter was equally effusive about the film overall, calling One Battle After Another the best film they'd seen in five years and admitting they saw it four times — with plans for a fifth before Oscar night. They also handed Best Director to Paul Thomas Anderson, Best Supporting Actress to Teyana Taylor, and Best Supporting Actor to Delroy Lindo over the heavily favored Sean Penn.

When are the Oscars?

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony takes place this Sunday. DiCaprio is currently considered a strong contender in a Best Actor race that also includes Michael B. Jordan for Sinners, who has surged in recent weeks following a sweep of the major acting guild awards.