DiCaprio and Winslet almost didn't star in "Titanic" 1:32
(CNN Spanish) --
Leonardo DiCaprio never spends much time away from the public spotlight: whether it's for a new movie, a fiery environmental message or a rumor about his romantic life.
His figure has been with us for at least 25 years, when "Titanic" catapulted him to world stardom, something he has intentionally used in favor of his most beloved causes.
But his story didn't start there.
DiCaprio, born in Hollywood in 1974, made his debut at age five on "Ramper Room," a children's television show that was followed by commercials and educational tapes as a teenager.
Leonardo DiCaprio in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," the first film for which he was nominated for an Oscar.
At the beginning of the 90s, he appeared in some series on the small screen and debuted in what would be his definitive career, the cinema, with a low-budget horror film called "Critters 3" in 1991. He followed that same path with productions of increasingly high profile until in 1997 came the one that would seal his fame: "Titanic".
"Titanic", Leonardo DiCaprio's catapult
The tragic story of Jack and Rose, played by DiCaprio and Kate Winslet —who turned 22 and 21, respectively, during that shoot— moved audiences worldwide and swept the following Oscar season.
And it turns out that it almost didn't happen.
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A short time ago it became known that the director of the film, James Cameron, almost did not choose Winslet or DiCaprio for the roles.
In his case — who by then had already headlined several films including "Romeo + Juliet" and had earned an Oscar nomination for "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" — it was because he initially refused to read part of the script in a try next to Winslet.
DiCaprio felt that he no longer had to audition.
"Well, thanks for coming," the director replied, insisting that he should take the test.
Reluctantly, the actor relented and the rest is history.
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During the 2016 awards season it was evident that the friendship between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet is very strong.
Check out this gallery as they've celebrated together over the years.
(Credit: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Turner)
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At the Oscars they met on the red carpet and posed together (Credit: VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images)
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The embrace of an expected celebration: Kate Winslet congratulates DiCaprio for winning the Oscar for best actor.
(Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
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Winslet congratulates DiCaprio when he won the Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 30, 2016 (Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Turner)
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In 2009 they arrived together at the 66th Golden Globe Awards (Credit: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)
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In 2009 they arrived together at the 66th Golden Globe Awards. Both starred in the film 'Revolutionary Road' (Credit: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images)
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Winslet and DiCaprio at the 'Revolutionary Road' premiere on December 15, 2008 in Westwood, California.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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DiCaprio and Winslet arrived together at the 55th Golden Globe Awards in 1998 after starring in 'Titanic' (Credit: HAL GARB/AFP/Getty Images)
In addition to cementing his place in Hollywood and beyond, the filming of "Titanic" kicked off a friendship he maintains to this day with Winslet, with whom he also shared the screen in 2008's "Revolutionary Road."
"We are united for life," said the actress in 2021, recalling her reunion with DiCaprio after a time without being able to see each other due to border closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.
the fifth is the charm
The films in which DiCaprio has acted since then number in the dozens and there are for all tastes: "Catch Me If You Can" (2002), "Gangs of New York" (2002), "The Aviator" (2004), " The Departed" (2006), "Blood Diamond" (2006), "Shutter Island" (2010), "Inception" (2010), "Django Unchained" (2012), "The Great Gatsby" (2013), "The Wolf of Wall Street" (2013), "The Revenant" (2015), "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" (2019) and Don't Look Up" (2021) are among the most prominent.
In addition to being prolific, DiCaprio has been an award-winning star.
The great milestone for him in this matter came in 2016, when he won the Oscar for best actor for "The Revenant."
It was the actor's fifth nomination: the first was for his supporting role as Johnny Depp's little brother in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape."
DiCaprio had subsequently been nominated for playing Howard Hughes in 2005's "The Aviator," a diamond smuggler in 2006's "Blood Diamond," and a crooked stockbroker in Martin's "The Wolf of Wall Street." Scorsese, released in 2013.
His extensive list of honors also includes three Golden Globes and a BAFTA award.
To his prolific acting career we must add another of similar stature as a producer.
Shorts, movies, TV series, documentaries: DiCaprio has participated in these tasks in all kinds of productions from 2004 onwards.
A reserved private life
DiCaprio is not distinguished, precisely, for being open in regards to his private life: his social networks are dedicated to his environmental fight and he does not usually give interviews.
His first high-profile partner was supermodel Giselle Bundchen, and he was also in a relationship with Bar Refaeli and Camila Morrone, among others.
Leonardo DiCaprio along with Giselle Bundchen arrive at the 2005 Oscars in Hollywood.
(Credit: Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)
Although he does not speak publicly on the subject, he has repeatedly been at the center of public conversations about the age of his partners.
DiCaprio, a visionary of the environmental fight
DiCaprio's environmental activism began long, long before the issue was at the center of public debate.
In 1998, when he was 24 years old, the actor created a foundation to support projects related to the protection of the planet.
Since then he has supported dozens of initiatives, according to the UN, of which he is a public figure allied.
He is also on the board of organizations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Leonardo DiCaprio is an ally of the UN in the fight for the preservation of the planet.
In 2016, in his Oscar acceptance speech, he sent out a warning message about climate change with a lucidity that even today —when humanity is already experiencing firsthand the first consequences of its mistakes— not everyone achieves.
"Climate change is real and it's happening right now. This is the most urgent threat facing our species and we must work collectively and stop putting it off. We must support leaders around the world who don't speak for big polluters or big corporations." corporations, but by those who speak for all of humanity, the indigenous and for the billions of less privileged people in the world who are affected," he said at the time.
The Amazon has been at the center of his messages time and again, which has earned him a public confrontation with the former president of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro, who in 2022 literally ordered him to keep his mouth shut after the actor made a call the youth of that country to participate in the elections, affirming that "what happens there matters to all of us, and the youth vote is key to promote change for a healthy planet".
The actor's activism has also reached one of Mexico's most beloved endangered species, the vaquita: in 2017 he made a direct public call to then-president Enrique Peña Nieto to act, who responded by defending his government's management.
And he has celebrated improvements in the region such as the official creation of the Ansenuza National Park and National Reserve in Argentina.
DiCaprio celebrates the creation of a national park in Argentina 0:56
His dedication to the planet has had a counterpart on the screen, a field in which he stands out, among others, his first feature documentary, "The 11th Hour", which puts some of the main environmental experts on stage and was released in 2007 after four years of production.
And it has also earned him an unusual recognition for the industry: in 2022 a group of scientists named a species of tropical tree native to the Ebo forest in Cameroon in his honor.
In botany, species are often named after scientists who have dedicated themselves to certain areas of study.
However, in this case the experts decided to recognize DiCaprio, who in 2021 drew attention to a threat in the area due to a concession to a logging company.
With information from Sana Noor Haq, Mariano Castillo, Nacho Girón, Brandon Griggs, Dan Heching, Chloe Melas, Stephanie Elam, Jason Kravarik, Camilo Rocha, Karol Suárez and Ángela Reyes Haczek.
Leonardo Dicaprio
