Leonardo DiCaprio: After 'Titanic,' 'I Became Sort of This Thing'

By PopEater Staff Posted Feb 11th 2010 10:01AM

Leonardo DiCaprio graces the cover of the newest issue of Esquire. The 'Shutter Island' stars opens up to the magazine about many things, including meeting River Phoenix the night he died, James Cameron, Meryl Streep and his fame after 'Titanic.'

"It wasn't the era of penetrating Internet paparazzi that we have now. But my name wasn't me anymore. I was sort of this thing. Kate [Winslet] felt it, too. But a lot of the attention was on me because of the teenage girls who repeatedly went to see the movie. I had the blond hair, and I was Jack Dawson, this heroic figure," he says.

Meeting River Phoenix: "When I was eighteen, River Phoenix was far and away my hero. Think of all those early great performances -- 'My Own Private Idaho,' 'Stand by Me.' I always wanted to meet him. One night, I was at this Halloween party, and he passed me. He was beyond pale -- he looked white. Before I got a chance to say hello, he was gone, driving off to the Viper Room, where he fell over and died."

Working with James Cameron: "Jim knows exactly what he wants. Needless to say, when somebody felt a different way on the set of 'Titanic,' there was a confrontation. Jim had it out with them right there in front of everybody. He lets you know exactly how he feels. But he's of the lineage of John Ford. He knows what he wants his film to be. I remember sitting in a theater after it was done and being in awe. He got what he wanted."

A 'Titanic' rebellion: "I set up everything in my personal life to rebel against that image in order to strip it down. I had a lot of fun stripping it down. But ultimately, that knocked me a few rungs down the ladder."

On Meryl Streep: "She's the only person who looks completely natural. She's the only person who has actually made her character into a real human being who would have an erratic moment because those erratic moments are what make you more human. That was a huge moment of discovery. Meryl may be the greatest actor in the world."

Get More Leo @ Esquire

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Comments

(20)

Thursday 11 February

By hobo

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I personally think Leo is one, if not great actors we have today. The Acadamy for some reason dosen"t respect him or his skills. That"s ok, I believe it really doesn"t matter to him.
The very Best to you & yours,Leo.

By Wish Belkin

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This guy is a genuine talent.
Knew it when I saw him in Gilbert Grape.

By Misty

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Leonardo DiCaprio is excellent and always thought that he should had won the Best Actor at Oscars for Titanic! That goes for many movies that he had made or in making now. Excellent Actor and same for Meryll! Love her in many movies over the years

By Craig

I think he's a great actor but my opinion of him diminished when I found out he was such a leftist. I wish these people would just be quiet about there opinions. No matter what they say it will alienate at least 50% of the fans.

By jaelyn

Craig- You wish "these people would just be quiet about their opinions." Not half as much as we wish YOU would be quiet about YOUR opinion...

By declined

I have a feeling Craig would not feel this way if Leo's opinions matched his.

Saturday 13 February

By CommiesSuck

You are right Craig. And these other guys are idiots.

By J

Oh, I agree! I don't want to know how they feel about politics, usually. It was refreshing to hear Angelina say Obama was a socialist, though.

Brilliant in Gilbert Grape

By karen

Leo is a humble person and he doesn't seem the type to have to "be in the spotlight" he is charasmatic and can carry himself without an ego...Hey Leo if you are reading this, this fan wants to make sure you get your brakes checked on your Toyota!!

By margaret

I love looking at Leo, not to mention he's an excellent actor. I think he'll be around for a long time, I loved him in Titantic, having seen it at least 6 times and his look just gets better and better. I'm lookig forward to seeing him in Shutter Island, keep doing what you're doing Leo!

By V

Leo should play Rhett Butler in a re-make of Gone with the Wind!!!

By Barbara

I was fortunate to be in a scene with Leo in'This Boy's Life'. Afterward Leo came over to talk to me. He was very young and very shy. So nice to see such a clean nice boy. He did a great job of acting in that rather downer movie.I was fortunate to get his autograph. He will go down as one of the great actors.

By Frank

A SEQUEL TO THE TITANIC WITH ALL THE SAME CHARACTERS WOULD CERTAINLY BE GREAT. HE WOULD SOMEHOW SURVIVE THE DROWNING IN ICE COLD WATER AND PURSUE HIS LOVE FOR KATE WINSLET. A GREAT PAIR OF STARS AND A GREAT SEQUEL IT WOULD BE. .

By Erin26

He is one of my top 3 favorite and amazing actors out there. I did fall in love with him in What's Eating Gilbert Grape and that was it for me. He should have been nominated for an Oscar for The Departed and won which is some of his best work. I just don't understand what the academy is waiting for?? I can't wait for Shutter Island next week. I am psyched to see him on screen again :)

Friday 12 February

By barbie

It must be me but there is something off about him and I can't put my finger on it....He really didn't belong in that role in Titanic, he was to young, and he seemed to over-act it. He was good in the Basketball Diaries. I think it might be that he looks too young for all the roles he plays or its me and can't shake his first role in Family Ties back in the beginning of his career.

By jill

i really thought they found a retarded boy who could act in gilbert grape...thats how convincing he was...still love him..great actor

By judy tomasulo

Leo was great, but the Titanic movie disappointed me. It was too much fictional fantasy. I expected more true to life. But the stars did a great job with what they had.

By Tommy Scott

He was beyon brilliant as Rimbaud in Total Eclipse, a very risky role for one his age and level. He continues to take risks and that may be the key to enduring thru age transition.

Monday 15 March

By Bridgette

I used to think Leo was the cutes little kid, when he was on Growing Pains. I thought, even as young as he was back then, he had this look, which was a very multi-talented babe magnet! And he definitely filled out his shoes and proved to America that he wasn't just any cute kid, but he was Leonardo DiCaprio, the greatest actor, ever to walk the earth! LOL.. Ok, I know, that's going a little overboard, right? :D

Thursday 15 April

By Stephanie

He is the best Actor. He is so great in all of his films I mean he is so exact on his roles. He should have won an Oscar for every role he ever did.

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