Movies

Why Leonardo DiCaprio Says ‘I Will Always Feel Like An Outsider’

Superstar Leonardo DiCaprio previously shared that he doesn't always see himself as a Hollywood insider.

by Melissa Mitas

Published on June 23, 2020

3 min read

‘The most difficult film I’ve ever done’

Fortunately DiCaprio was already a nature enthusiast when he took on his Oscar-winning role of frontiersman Hugh Glass. A known environmental activist, the Titanic star has always maintained an affinity for the great outdoors.

“I love being immersed in nature, going to places in the world that are pristine and untouched by man,” DiCaprio told Time Out in 2016. “It’s almost a religious experience when you go to a place like the Amazon and there’s no civilization for thousands of miles.”

Yet being subjected to the harsh conditions of the 1823 wilderness film setting of The Revenant, DiCaprio had his work cut out for him.

“It was physically grueling for everybody,” the actor revealed in 2015 of shooting The Revenant. “We had to have this massive crew go to far-off locations and move around all over the high altitudes, from Calgary to Vancouver. … Every single day of this movie was difficult. It was the most difficult film I’ve ever done.”

Leonardo DiCaprio’s partnership with Martin Scorsese

Throughout his career, DiCaprio has teamed up with legendary director Martin Scorsese for a myriad of films. Working together on blockbusters including Shutter Island, The Departed, and The Wolf of Wall Street, DiCaprio credits the film icon for some of his most significant projects.

“It’s interesting, because I have been doing this since I was 13,” DiCaprio said in 2014 of his acting, according to IndieWire. “I am looking back at some of the stuff I’ve gotten to do, and at the center of it is this amazing accidental collaboration that I’ve gotten to have with Marty.”

Collaborating with Scorsese for some of his most famous films, DiCaprio sees the director as an invaluable mentor.

“It’s hard for me to quite articulate or put into words everything that I’ve learned from him,” The Aviator star shared. “These key moments, they’re hard to even reflect on because you sort of have to take a breather and look back and realize how much you’ve actually learned. I’ve grown tremendously as an actor just to be in those moments with him, where he’s giving me the right guidance.”

‘Titanic’ star relates to Martin Scorsese on a personal level

Surprisingly, DiCaprio admitted that he can still struggle with feeling like the odd man out in Hollywood circles despite his A-lister status. The actor revealed that Scorsese also battled with trying to break into the exclusive showbiz bubble.

“I think I will always feel like an outsider. Marty was the same,” DiCaprio told Time Out. “He came from the streets of New York and didn’t feel like he belonged in Hollywood. I can remember getting rejected systematically by casting directors as a young kid. I felt like the biggest outsider there ever was; that I’d never belong in that club.”

Now with a plethora of box office hits to his name along with an Oscar, there’s a good chance DiCaprio will start to feel like he belongs.