Leonardo DiCaprio has moved to clarify some comments he made about starring in Titanic being a big regret for him because it meant that he couldn’t star in Boogie Nights.
Of course, Titanic went on to be one of the biggest films of all time and catapulted him to superstardom, but still he rues what could have been.
Leonardo DiCaprio outlined his ‘regret’ at not being in Boogie Nights
The 51-year-old A-lister made his comments during an interview with Esquire, in which he was specifically asked about his ‘greatest regret’.
Obviously, he wasn’t going to tell us all about an embarrassing incident from his love life, or a time he could have done something at school but didn’t, was he?
Instead, he picked something else - he said his 'biggest regret' career-wise was opting to take another role over one that he later came to love when someone else played the character.
The film in question is Boogie Nights.
It was made by Paul Thomas Anderson, who would later go on to great things with films like Magnolia, There Will Be Blood - although another director has a bone to pick with that film - and Leo’s latest One Battle After Another.
So, he decided to shine a bit of light on his recent director and a film that he loved.
Titanic, of course, went on to pick up 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, so it wasn’t a bad choice, all things considered.
Leo clarified his Titanic comments
Clearing up the confusion, Leo told Deadline: "Well, I think that was my answer to a question in the guise of speaking to [Paul Thomas Anderson], and, without getting too personal about my own life, the question was, 'What do you regret most?'
“We were sitting here talking about movies.
“It came from the standpoint of just being a fan of his work for so long.”
In the end, they would work together, but the Boogie Nights role went to Mark Wahlberg, who performed admirably.
Leo continued: "I do remember watching that movie and it being just a lightning rod moment for my generation. It was like the arrival of a new cinematic titan, one who was speaking to my generation.
"Now, I don’t think anyone could have done a better job than Mark Wahlberg in that movie, so I said it from the perspective of being just a really sincere fan and then watching the way Paul has progressed as a storyteller with these very esoteric, existential films he’s made since then that keep you thinking.
"Boogie Nights was the launching pad for a new artist. So, it’s less about that specific film and more about wanting to have worked with Paul.”
Clarifying his final decision to star in Titanic over Boogie Nights, Leo said: "No regrets. I mean, fully now in retrospect, I look back at that film and realize the thanks and the appreciation that I have for being a part of it, and to have been able to be in this incredibly fortunate position and not only to have been a part of that movie, but to be able to be the conductor of my own choices since.
“That has been just the greatest gift."
"The dilemma for me at that point, was, of course, I would’ve loved to have done both movies, but it just couldn’t happen at that moment.
“And then, here we are, all these years later and it’s this great sort of reconnection.
“We’ve gone on these paths together, and then to come back around and be able to collaborate with Paul on this is just amazing.”
"But yeah, I mean that moment, I don’t know what my ability or my career would’ve been without that film making it possible to be able to steer the course of my own career.
“So, I’m very thankful."