Before red carpets, awards buzz, and viral fashion moments, Grace Van Patten and Timothée Chalamet were just two students navigating the halls of New York City’s legendary Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
In a new interview with Nylon, the Tell Me Lies actress reflected on her years-long friendship with Chalamet, offering a glimpse into their shared creative beginnings — and the kind of support that only comes from growing up together.
“Timmy is a good friend of mine. I was in the audience for all of his rap performances, which were incredible,” she shared. “I feel like such a proud mom for every person from LaGuardia that’s doing well. It gets me so pumped up.”
The comment immediately resonated with fans who know Chalamet’s early rap persona, Lil’ Timmy Tim, long before Oscar nominations entered the picture.
Van Patten also spoke candidly about life at LaGuardia — a school known for producing some of Hollywood’s most respected performers — and how she found balance there.
“It was a great escape from just acting for the rest of the day. It was the only part that made me feel like I was at a normal high school,” she said, referring to playing basketball during her time as a student.
LaGuardia’s alumni list reads like a who’s who of entertainment royalty, including Jennifer Aniston, Al Pacino, Nicki Minaj, Sarah Paulson, Adrien Brody, Awkwafina, Timothée Chalamet, and dozens more. For Van Patten, being part of that lineage comes with a sense of pride — and grounding.
Her reflections arrive as Tell Me Lies prepares to return for its third season, with fans eager to see where her character’s story goes next. But even as her career continues to grow, it’s clear Van Patten hasn’t forgotten where it all began — or the friendships that shaped her along the way.
