A True Leonardo DiCaprio Story That Will Make You Love Him Even More

Leonardo DiCaprio’s movies didn’t just make him a global star — they also made him very rich. Between 1995 and 2020, he earned around $300 million from acting and movie deals. Ever since Titanic, he’s been one of Hollywood’s biggest heartthrobs — let’s take a closer look at his journey to the top!

As a kid, DiCaprio was faced with a choice.

As a kid, Leonardo DiCaprio was torn between two very different dreams — becoming a marine biologist or an actor. But everything changed when his step-brother earned $50,000 for a commercial. That number blew Leo’s mind, and he instantly knew: “I’m going to be an actor!”

Fun fact: he also almost became a breakdancer! In an interview with Oprah, Leo shared that he once won a dance competition in a small German town while visiting his grandmother — performing under the fun nickname “Noodle”.

He had his first acting gig at age 5, but, as it seems, it was too early for him.

Leo’s parents divorced when he was still a child, but despite this, they were very supportive of their son in his quest to become an actor. DiCaprio’s mom managed to get him on the TV Show, Romper Room. However, this experience might not have come at the right time for him, as they couldn’t control his behavior on set. He would smack the camera and jump around to do his little flips and routines.

At a very young age, DiCaprio had to face lots of rejection.

One of the first obstacles DiCaprio had to face was finding an agent. One even suggested changing his name to Lenny Williams, as it would be easier for him to land a job since it would appeal more to the American audience. He even attended 100 auditions without landing a single role.

During one of his auditions, when DiCaprio was about 10 years old, they brought 5 kids in to see their looks and whether or not they would be right for acting. “It felt like we were a row of meat. The lady looked at me and at the other kids, saying, ’Not him, not him, not him. You stay.’ I was one of the ’not him,’” the actor revealed in an interview. “On the way home in the car, I cried and said, ’Dad, I really want to become an actor, but if this is what it’s about, I don’t want to do it.’”

Thankfully, at that moment, his dad was very supportive, and he encouraged him to never give up.

Motivation from his father and the need to financially support his mother made him eager to continue to audition.

When he finally found a talent agent who accepted him, he secured roles in around 20 commercials. In the early 1990s, DiCaprio started acting on television regularly. He started with a role in The Outsiders and a small one in an episode of the soap opera, Santa Barbara. His next role in Parenthood in 1990 improved his career prospects significantly, and that year he earned 2 nominations at the 12th Youth in Film Awards for Best Young Actor in a Daytime Series for Santa Barbara and Best Young Actor Starring in a New Television Series for Parenthood.

DiCaprio’s first starring role in his life.

His first major role DiCaprio played in the movie “This Boy’s Life”. The actor played Toby, the son of the main character Caroline. After divorcing her husband, the woman takes the boy and goes on a journey across the country, trying to find a shelter and start a new life. In one of the towns they meet a man in whom Caroline sees hope for well-being. She marries him. However, the new husband turns out to be a tyrant.

Curiously, among the applicants for the main role was a close friend of the actor, Tobey Maguire. Bypassing his friend at the casting, Leo persuaded the producers to take in the project and him. So Maguire got the role of Chuck Bolger.

He continued acting in movies in different genres, which helped him sharpen his acting skills and become the star he is today.

DiCaprio has picked diverse roles, unlike other actors who only prefer to stick to one niche. “I think actors make the mistake of finding their little niche in the business, and once they try to do something a little darker, boom, they get slapped across the face for it, so they go back to what they did before. That’s why the business can be cruel because it doesn’t encourage you to learn,” he revealed.

And while DiCaprio didn’t feel any pressure from the public to prove his talent before, after filming What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, he felt that he had to continue to show off what he could do. And when an interviewer asked him if he was scared he couldn’t act so well, again, he said, “No, I know I can do it. It’s something that’s there. But at the same time, you fight off these other things that you’ve started to hear about yourself and that you’re a lot more conscious of than before.”

Leonardo DiCaprio helped Kate Winslet believe in herself.

It’s no secret that after starring in the movie Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet became close friends. The thing is, Leonardo has been very supportive of Kate in her time of need.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Winslet recalled that while filming Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio said some things to her about her looks, and added that those words she will never forget. He told her: “It’s very important that you are exactly the shape you are in.” When Kate clarified from him what he meant, Leo replied, “The thing is, there are so many girls around who think that in order to be successful and beautiful and loved, they need to be thin.”

Today, DiCaprio is one of the most popular, beloved actors in the world.

Known for his work as a leading man in period films and biopics, DiCaprio has received many accolades, including a British Academy Film Award, an Academy Award, and 3 Golden Globe Awards. As of 2019, his films have grossed over $7.2 billion worldwide, and he’s one of the world’s highest-paid actors.

Leonardo DiCaprio is not only a good actor, but also a very deep and kind person.

Leonardo DiCaprio has a special bond with a young girl he met while filming Blood Diamond in Mozambique. He visited a local SOS Children’s Village and grew so close to one of the girls there that he decided to support her financially. Since then, he’s stayed in touch and helps cover her living and food expenses every month.

Leo also deeply cares about the planet. In fact, when he finally won his Oscar, he used his speech to raise awareness about climate change — urging everyone not to take our Earth for granted.

And here you can read about that most famous kiss between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet at a screening of the new movie.