Over the past two decades, Leonardo DiCaprio has become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. While his distinct features and blue-green eyes remain constants across roles he takes on, there is much more to this talented actor than meets the eye.
If you are an admirer of Leo – as his fans call him – here are some interesting facts you may not be aware of about him as an actor. From his humble origins in an unassuming Los Angeles suburb to his rapid rise to stardom, this article covers everything you need to know about this Titanic actor… so read ahead…
1) He Has A Very Famous Face
DiCaprio’s fame stems not just from his personality; rather it lies with his face. People have used computer software to replicate his likeness in everything from magazine covers and classical paintings to magazine covers and even TIME magazine’s covers! DiCaprio has graced numerous magazines with his visage being featured prominently – TIME being no exception!
His features have long been one of the most recognizable in the world, due to their being one of the most instantly recognisable faces worldwide. This may have something to do with him being of European and New York heritage – some believe his face was inspired by modernist painter Gustav Klimt while another claimed it was inspired by Renaissance artist Giovanni Bellini.
2)Becoming A Child Star Was NOT His Plan
DiCaprio didn’t initially set out to become a superstar child actor – his parents even tried to discourage it as an occupation! Instead, DiCaprio simply entered commercial acting to earn some pocket money and fame before becoming more widely employed across TV, film and theatre productions.
Soon enough, he became too well-known to leave the industry behind. In 1991 he found his breakthrough when cast as Gilbert Grape in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?”. Since then he has become one of the most beloved child actors of his generation with roles such as “Total Eclipse” and “The Basketball Diaries”. Since becoming an adult actor himself he has featured in films such as “The Aviator” and “The Wolf of Wall Street”.
3)He Turned Down Many Major Roles
DiCaprio has been offered some of the most coveted roles in Hollywood history since he first hit Hollywood. But that does not necessarily mean he accepts them all: most notably turning down Harry Potter in the first film of the series; being offered lead role in Titanic but declining due to scheduling conflicts; being offered lead role in Lord of the Rings but declining it because script was too long; regardless of his success he remains selective when selecting roles to accept.
4)He Is An Influential Environmentalist
Over the past several years, Leonardo DiCaprio has become an outspoken and prominent environmentalist. He has initiated various campaigns designed to raise awareness about global environmental threats while using his celebrity status to motivate others to do their part for our planet.
DiCaprio has long championed climate change as an issue that must be taken seriously by world leaders, supporting several environmental-focused organizations and donating large portions of his wealth towards environmental causes. He has taken up farming in order to produce more sustainably produced food while fighting legal battles to stop environmentally damaging projects from moving forward.
5)His Biggest Break Was Also His Biggest Flop
DiCaprio’s role in “Titanic” has often been heralded as his “breakthrough,” though critics were much harsher with it than any other movie of all time. Still, “Titanic” became one of the highest-grossing movies ever.
Initially intended as a more modest production, Titanic quickly underwent dramatic revision after director James Cameron saw Leonardo DiCaprio at the casting office and cast him in the leading role. This massive, highly expensive film would become DiCaprio’s biggest career success and became his greatest fame globally.
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6)He Has Donated Millions To Environmentally-Friendly Causes
DiCaprio has been extremely generous with the wealth he has accumulated throughout his career, giving away much of it to numerous charities and establishing his own organization. DiCaprio has contributed significant sums to organizations working to save the Brazilian rainforest and cut CO2 emissions.
He established The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation as a non-profit organization to protect the environment, preserve wildlife and implement sustainable farming practices. Furthermore, he donated significant sums of money in response to natural disasters while helping form organizations which offer grants for environmentally related projects.
7)Having Trouble Speaking English Is A Benefit For Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio is an American actor born to Italian parents but with little fluency in Italian; this fact works to his advantage in acting. Partial fluency of any language known as “verismo” in acting refers to someone proficient enough to convey meaning without fully being understood, making for a highly effective technique used by actors.
Conclusion
Leonardo DiCaprio is an award-winning actor, philanthropist, and environmentalist who has made a name for himself as an extremely selective actor since entering the industry almost half his life ago. Although fame came quickly following some years as a child actor (although admits there is still more work ahead), DiCaprio remains one of the most versatile actors of his generation – his journey has been one filled with hard work and perseverance to reach fame as an adult actor.