Leonardo DiCaprio Calls This Actor “The Consummate Actor of Our Time”
Leonardo DiCaprio once shared a heartfelt story about his first encounter with Robert De Niro, revealing how the legendary actor shaped his understanding of the craft.
Speaking about the experience to The Guardian, DiCaprio recalled, “I remember the first time I saw Robert De Niro up on screen. I was 13 years old, and despite what I had learned at career day, I discovered that acting was in fact a profession.”
He described going to see Midnight Run with his father, who pointed to De Niro and said, “You see that guy up there? Now that guy is cool. His name is Robert De Niro. You wanna watch a great actor? You remember his face.”
Just three years later, DiCaprio found himself facing De Niro in the final audition for the lead role in This Boy’s Life. Nervous but determined, he studied De Niro’s films and focused on what quality he could show that the actor would respect. “And then it came to be – menace. I knew that I needed to walk into that audition and be a menacing force to be reckoned with,” DiCaprio explained.
During the audition, the pair worked through one of the film’s most intense scenes. DiCaprio described how he shouted directly at De Niro’s character, fully committing to the moment.
“I knew that I had shaken this room up. This De Niro guy was stunned. And then it dawned on me. He wasn’t stone-faced because of my awe-inspiring performance; he was trying to contain his laughter,” DiCaprio said.
De Niro offered him a small piece of advice: “Why don’t you try and take it down a notch?” Following that guidance, DiCaprio adjusted his performance, learning that intensity is most effective when balanced.
Years later, DiCaprio reflected on that experience with deep respect. “I am grateful to Robert De Niro for taking a chance on me, for giving me the opportunity to work alongside you and observe the underlying mechanisms that make you the consummate actor of our time,” he said.
This story highlights not only De Niro’s legendary skill but also the mentorship and guidance that helped shape DiCaprio into the actor he is today. It’s a reminder that even the greatest stars were once learning from the icons before them.
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