We often hear stories about actors plucked from obscurity and propelled to stardom on the big screen. But perhaps no rise has been as rapid as that of Mark Eidelstein. The 22-year-old actor was discovered via Zoom at his home in western Russia, to land one of the leading roles in Anorathe Palme d’Or winning film that premiered at the end of this year. In fact, his performance was so convincing that Eidelstein is now being hailed as the next Timothée Chalamet – and not just because of his playful personality and mop of brown hair. Get to know the star in the making below.

Who is Mark Eidelstein?

If you’ve already seen it Anorayou will recognize it Eidelstein as his character, Ivan: the crazy young son of a Russian oligarch, who falls in love with the film’s protagonist, a sex worker, played by Mikey Madison. But beyond the character, Eidelstein is originally from the western Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod, where he was raised by non-famous parents: a sports journalist and a teacher.

As a teenager, Eidelstein secretly left his home to travel to Moscow, where he was accepted into the Moscow Art Theater School. While studying there, he began acting in short films and television shows, before landing a role in a Russian film. Sasha’s country which premiered at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival. It was this role that attracted attention Anora director Sean Baker, who asked Eidelstein to record a self-tape for the role of Ivan. Knowing that Ivan would have a wardrobe full of expensive clothes (and that he himself did not), Eidelstein made the choice to shoot the scenes topless – a decision that ultimately worked in his favor. It wasn’t long before he was on a plane to America and well on his way to stardom.

He is compared to Timothée Chalamet

It should come as no surprise that on social media Eidelstein is compared to Timothée Chalamet. The two actors bear more than a striking resemblance, with their thick brown hair and thin figure. Both on and off screen, Eidelstein has the boyish, energetic charm that Chalamet is so loved for. As for how the rising actor feels about the comparison, he told Variety that he’s at peace with it: “It got a little annoying, but then I looked Duneand now I think he’s probably one of the best actors of my generation. Him and Barry Keoghan.”