Leonardo DiCaprio, arguably one of Hollywood’s best actors, has been in the business since the early 1990s, acting in some of the most impactful films of all time. There isn’t a single character that he doesn’t fit into, from his main role in Martin Scorsese’s revolutionary film The Wolf of Wall Street to his Academy Award-winning performance in The Revenant. Outside of acting, DiCaprio is particularly committed to environmental activism, having formed a nonprofit organization that supports charities on a regular basis and even producing several environmental movies. He is one of the most outspoken celebrities in the fight against climate change. In recognition of such an actor, we’ve listed ten lesser-known facts that might make you raise an eyebrow in surprise! Take a look below.
Leonardo DiCaprio
The Origin Of His Name
DiCaprio’s name comes from the great Renaissance painter Leonardo Da Vinci, and his roots are particularly intriguing. His mother first felt her baby kick while looking at a Da Vinci painting at the Uffizi Museum in Florence on a trip to Italy, prompting her to name him after this magical occurrence.
His Name Caused Issues Professionally
Despite his name’s poignant roots, DiCaprio was encouraged to change it since it was preventing him from obtaining parts. According to reports, the actor went on 100 auditions without getting a single role, nearly forcing him to retire from performing in the 1980s. An agency even encouraged him to change his “foreign-sounding” name to something more American-sounding in order to appeal to a wider audience in the United States. We’re grateful he didn’t give up or change his name because he was able to land a slew of memorable parts as a result.
He Began Acting In Commercials
DiCaprio is one of the rare kid actors who has been able to keep a consistent career path since his early years. In the beginning of his acting career, he worked in commercials on television. His mother took him to auditions throughout his adolescence, and his first appearance was in a Matchbox Cars commercial when he was 14 years old.
He Can’t Sing
Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet, which presented us to one of the most classic Halloween couples costume ideas of all time, is one of DiCaprio’s most iconic parts. DiCaprio reportedly wanted to be a part of Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge, but he felt that his singing voice was “atrocious” and unsuitable for the picture.
His First Academy Award Nomination
It was a common joke on the Internet up until DiCaprio’s 2016 Oscar win for The Revenant that he was a perpetual Academy Award loser, having been nominated for five prizes and losing each one. His first nomination came in 1993 for his critically lauded performance in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, for which he was also nominated for a Golden Globe.
His Haircut Caused Controversy
Following the phenomenal success of Titanic, “Leo-mania” spread over the world. It got to the point that his signature hairdo was outlawed in some countries, such as Afghanistan, since they didn’t want to be connected with the film.
No To Drugs
Regardless of the fact that he uses e-cigarettes, the actor has never used drugs. Despite having been around drugs since he was three or four years old, DiCaprio claims that drugs have never been a part of his Hollywood experience. In reality, he met with an on-set drug specialist during the making of The Wolf of Wall Street, and he and Jonah Hill viewed Youtube videos to acquire ideas for the inebriated sequences.
Hollywood Entourage
Despite the fact that he has never used drugs, DiCaprio has admitted to being a big party animal in the 1990s. He and a gang of Hollywood guys, including Tobey Maguire, David Blaine, and Harmony Korine, were known as “The Pussy Posse,” and they partied their way through the decade.
Worst Actor…?
We all know Leo as one of the greatest actors of all time, but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, he once received the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor in 2001 following his role in The Beach, which received countless negative reviews.
Kate Winslet Flashed Him
During the filming of Titanic, his romantic co-star Kate Winslet chose to break the ice by flashing him because she knew she’d have to be completely naked in front of him at some point. This strategy paid off well, as the two have maintained a long and lovely friendship since then.
