Leonardo DiCaprio has opened up on his biggest regret in his career, admitting he wishes he had taken a role in a movie that he turned down – even though he went on to star in one of the biggest films of all time
Iconic actor Leonardo DiCaprio still harbors remorse about rejecting a particular movie role – despite the fact that the film he selected instead transformed him into a global superstar. The Hollywood legend, who claimed an Academy Award for The Revenant in 2015, has revealed his sorrow over declining the project in a recent conversation.
Although DiCaprio who has also starred in Django Unchained, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Killers of the Flower Moon would later appear in one of cinema’s most financially successful productions ever, he continues to feel regret about not accepting the opportunity. Admirers were stumped by his remarks since the picture he filmed alternatively was the celebrated Titanic, where he performed opposite Kate Winslet.
During a discussion with filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, DiCaprio expressed his disappointment over not participating in one of Anderson’s works, Boogie Nights.
He told Anderson: “I’ll say it even though you’re here: My biggest regret is not doing Boogie Nights. It was a profound movie of my generation.
“I can’t imagine anyone but Mark [Wahlberg] in it. When I finally got to see that movie, I just thought it was a masterpiece. It’s ironic that you’re the person asking that question, but it’s true.”
What DiCaprio failed to acknowledge is that he declined Boogie Nights to star in Titanic.
The Anderson and DiCaprio collaboration would need to wait more than 25 years, with the duo eventually working together on One Battle After Another.
However, cinema enthusiasts find it amusing that DiCaprio could have any regrets about starring in one of the most triumphant and praised films in movie history.
One fan wrote on X: “Very funny when you consider the movie he chose over this was Titanic. For the record Titanic was the best choice for Leo, but it derailed the public’s image of him as a ‘serious actor’ which he worked tirelessly to achieve ever since.”
Another joked: “Imagine if it was Mark Wahlberg in Titanic and Leonardo in Boogie Nights… I think it would have been horrible but mildly interesting.”
Other fans have agreed that both DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg, the latter starring in Boogie Nights, received the right roles at the time.
One fan of both films wrote: “As much as DiCaprio is a far better actor than Wahlberg, both roles definitely went to the right person.”
Another understood DiCaprio’s regret over turning down Boogie Nights, adding: “Well, Boogie Nights is better.”
A third added: “Boogie Nights is a better movie than Titanic but I’m pretty sure being in Titanic is like the single greatest career win any actor has ever had ever.”
Some have praised DiCaprio for pursuing compelling projects long after Titanic and avoiding the temptation to appear in any “dumb superhero” movies.
The fan commended the Oscar winner, writing: “Leo is the real deal because he loves acting as an art form. Titanic is probably the most mainstream movie he ever did lol, no romcoms, no dumb superhero s***, no dumb comedies. Just win after win.”
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