Leonardo DiCaprio Almost Lost Titanic Role Over Refusing A Screen Test
Celebrated Hollywood actor, Leonardo DiCaprio almost didn’t get the part in Titanic, and it possibly would have been his fault.
As reported by Screenrant, DiCaprio starred in the film, which proved to be a box office success — the movie’s currently the third high-grossing movie of all time worldwide — and cemented DiCaprio’s status as a 90s heartthrob.
With an Oscar win for his performance in The Revenant, DiCaprio’s talent and onscreen presence haven’t faded. DiCaprio’s earned five other nominations at the time of this writing, and he’s helped make over $6 billion at the box office with 23 leading roles.
In a retrospective interview for GQ, James Cameron recalled how a young Leonardo DiCaprio almost didn’t get the part.
Cameron said their initial meeting went well, but things almost fell apart once DiCaprio found out that he had to do a screen test for the role.
DiCaprio said he didn’t read for parts, and Cameron almost sent him packing on the spot. Read how the incident was settled and how DiCaprio got the part below:
“And he said, ‘You mean, I’m reading?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘Oh, I don’t read.’ I shook his hand and said, ‘Thanks for coming by . . . This is a giant movie that is going to take two years of my life, and you’ll be gone doing five other things while I’m doing post-production. So, I’m not going to f—— it up by making the wrong decision in casting. So, you’re going to read, or you’re not going to get the part.’ So he comes in, and he’s like every ounce of his entire being is just so negative — right up until I said, ‘Action.’ Then he turned into Jack. Kate just lit up, and they played the scene. Dark clouds had opened up, and a ray of sun came down and lit up Jack. I’m like, ‘All right. He’s the guy.’”
