Cover Photo: IMDb
Photo: IMDb
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In celebration of Leonardo DiCaprio’s birthday, we take a look at some of the actor’s astounding performances throughout his career
For the longest time, Leonardo DiCaprio has received praise for his performances in various period films and biopics. The world, especially the internet, mused DiCaprio’s Oscar snubs. But when the actor finally received his first Academy Award in 2016 for his role in The Revenant, many thought it was a long time coming.
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Browse below to see more of DiCaprio’s outstanding performances that deserve the same praise he receives today as an award-winning star:
1. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
In What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, DiCaprio acts as Arnie, a mentally disabled younger brother of Gilbert, who is played by Johnny Depp. Unlike most actors taking on a similar role, DiCaprio was able to tug at the heartstrings of the audience with his spontaneity and innocence without breaking character.
Tatler Trivia: It was the role that put DiCaprio’s name beside esteemed actors in an Oscar nominations list. He was only 19 years old when he received a nomination from the Academy.
2. The Basketball Diaries
Basketball and the deep pit of drug addiction are what DiCaprio’s character, Jim Carroll, juggles in The Basketball Diaries. Based on the autobiographical novel of the same name, the film truly gave DiCaprio a chance to shine during the early start of his career. The actor, without a doubt, gave a raw and moving performance which made the movie somehow worth watching.
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Best Scene: A desperate and high Jim goes to his mother’s apartment to ask for money.
3. Django Unchained
One of the most admirable things about DiCaprio is that he commits to his role, sometimes to an extent that he completely embodies the spirit of the character he plays as seen in Django Unchained. Although the actor isn’t the main star of this film, he steals the show for a few moments as Calvin Candie, the owner of Candyland and the main antagonist of the action flick.
Best scene: The dinner scene involving Calvin, Dr Schultz, and Django was quite intense. It got even more heated when Calvin banged his hand on the table and blood began to drip down his palm.
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DiCaprio’s bleeding hand was real and unscripted, according to co-star Samuel L Jackson and Stacey Sher, the film’s producer. She added in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that it “disintegrated his hand, and he never flinched.”
4. Shutter Island
Prepare to be stunned by the mystery that will soon be revealed in Shutter Island. There are many reasons to watch this psychological thriller, and one of them is DiCaprio’s way of captivating the audience and luring them to his character’s side of the story in hopes of finding the truth about his wife who often haunts him. You can feel his frustration and grief in every scene.
5. Catch Me If You Can
DiCaprio stars as a skilled con man named Frank Abagnale Jr in Catch Me If You Can, who’s being chased by FBI agent Carl. Apart from this true story being an interesting cat-and-mouse chase, it also shows the life of the con man and how he was led to the life he’s lived. DiCaprio, as always, is charming and wins the viewers as they watch him dazzle the women he’d met.
Tatler Trivia: The real Frank Abagnale, Jr made a cameo as the man who arrests and escorts on-screen Frank into the police car.
6. Titanic
Last but definitely not least—the scene that broke everybody's heart. In James Cameron's Titanic (1997), DiCaprio played the role of Jack, a young and charming lad who fell in love with socialite Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet).
The whirlwind romance between the two protagonists was cut short when the Titanic ship bumped into a giant iceberg and sank. In the scene above, the lovebirds say their last goodbyes.
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Christine Andas is a features writer and the style lead of Tatler Philippines. She mostly covers style-related content but enjoys writing about space, sneakers, and her favourite stars. She acquired a master's degree in Creative Writing at the University of Santo Tomas and has written young adult short stories which can be read online.
