The Hollywood star and multi-award-winning actor is best known for roles in blockbusters Interstellar, Dune, A Complete Unknown and Marty Supreme.

In a clip that has now gone viral on social media, Chalamet is seen talking to fellow actor Matthew McConaughey at the University of Texas.

Timothée Chalamet is an award-winning actor (Image: Jordan Strauss/PA)

"I don't want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it's like, 'hey, keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore,'" Chalamet said.

"All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there," he quickly added.

Hollywood star Jamie Lee Curtis was among the first to react to Chalamet's comments, posting in an Instagram story: "Why are any artists taking shots at any other artists?"

Grammy Award-winner Doja Cat added: "Opera is 400 years old. Ballet is 500 years old.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Opera Tonight (@operatonight)

A post shared by Opera Tonight (@operatonight)

"Somebody named Tim-oh-tay Cha-lamet had the nerve to say that nobody cares about it."

Norwich Theatre, which has plenty of upcoming ballets and operas, including Matthew Bourne's The Red Shoes and the English Touring Opera's Pagliacci and The Gondoliers, has now hit back at the 30-year-old.

"We care about opera and ballet," a spokesman for the theatre said.

"Come and support the arts that are alive and thriving here at Norwich Theatre.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Norwich Theatre (@norwichtheatre)

A post shared by Norwich Theatre (@norwichtheatre)

"P.S. Timothée, if you’re ever in Norwich, you’ve got a ticket waiting for you."

The English National Ballet has also stepped in, insisting the art is "not only alive and well, but thriving".

"More than 200,000 people joined our performances, experiencing the power of ballet," it posted to Instagram.

"Our social content saw over 65 million impressions and we connected with thousands of people of all ages and walks of life through creative learning and participation."

© Eastern Daily Press