Leonardo DiCaprio has revealed his biggest career regret after being forced to turn down an Oscar-nominated film in the 90s.
The Hollywood icon has appeared in some huge hits over the years, including The Wolf of Wall Street, Shutter Island, Inception and the Revenant – which he finally took home the best actor award for in 2016.
However, in a new interview for Esquire, the 50-year-old opened up about the movie he still regrets not signing on to.
Speaking to Paul Thomas Anderson – who directed him in their new movie, One Battle After Another – the acclaimed filmmaker questioned whether he had ‘any regrets’ at this stage of his career.
‘I’ll say it even though you’re here: My biggest regret is not doing Boogie Nights,’ he replied. ‘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.’
Paul helmed Boogie Nights, with the 1997 movie focusing on nightclub dishwasher Eddie Adams, who went on to become one of the biggest names in the porn industry, performing under Dirk Diggler.
Mark led the star-studded cast alongside Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle, John C Reilly, Heather Graham, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Luis Guzman.
Leo was the director’s top choice for the main role after becoming impressed with his efforts in the Basketball Diaries – however, he was already tied to Titanic so suggested Mark for the role.
Thankfully, the pair managed to make their schedules work decades later to collaborate on One Battle After Another.
The movie is set to be released on September 26 – the very vague synopsis simply reads: ‘When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunites to rescue one of their own’s daughter.’
Elsewhere in the wide-ranging chat, the Hollywood heavyweight was asked about whether he ever watches any of his old films, having appeared in some of the biggest hits in cinema.
Despite stealing the scene in Catch Me If You Can, The Departed, Romeo + Juliet, Django Unchained and so many more, he shared that there was one particular movie in his back catalog that he sometimes comes back to more than most – the Aviator with Martin Scorsese.
‘I rarely watch any of my films, but if I’m being honest, there’s one that I have watched more than others,’ he admitted. ‘It’s The Aviator. That’s simply because it was such a special moment to me.
‘I had worked with Marty on Gangs of New York, and I’d been toting around a book on Howard Hughes for ten years. I almost did it with Michael Mann, but there was a conflict and I ended up bringing it to Marty.
‘I was 30. It was the first time as an actor I got to feel implicitly part of the production, rather than just an actor hired to play a role. I felt responsible in a whole new way.
‘I’ve always felt proud and connected to that film as such a key part of my growing up in this industry and taking on a role of a real collaborator for the first time.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
