Leonardo DiCaprio Reveals the One Role That’s Stuck With Him (& It’s Surprising)

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As a film critic, I’ve always admired Leonardo DiCaprio‘s knack for choosing truly exceptional projects. He consistently works with some of the best directors out there, and it shows in the roles he takes on – whether it’s the charming Rick Dalton in Tarantino’s *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood*, the captivating Frank Abagnale Jr. in Spielberg’s *Catch Me If You Can*, or the fiercely determined Hugh Glass in *The Revenant*. But, looking back at his career, it’s his collaboration with Martin Scorsese that really stands out. They’ve made six films together, and DiCaprio has mentioned that one particular project remains incredibly important to him, a real defining moment in his work.

While promoting his latest film, *One Battle After Another* (arriving in theaters September 26th), Leonardo DiCaprio revealed that his role as Howard Hughes in *The Aviator* remains the most impactful of his career. He explained that he’d been fascinated with Hughes for about a decade, carrying a book about him for years. When he finally got the chance to play Hughes around the age of 30, working with Martin Scorsese and also serving as a producer, he felt a significant level of responsibility. DiCaprio considers *The Aviator* a turning point in his life, and it’s not the character’s unusual behavior that has stayed with him, but rather the extensive thought process he put into understanding the role.

The Aviator Was An Important Film In Leonardo DiCaprio’s Career

You know, when people think of Leonardo DiCaprio movies, *The Aviator* often gets overlooked. It didn’t explode at the box office like *Titanic* or *Inception*, and it didn’t quite snag the big awards that *The Departed* did. But for me, it felt like a really important turning point in his career. It was still a huge critical success – eleven Oscar nominations is no joke! And it earned him his first Best Actor nomination after he really became a household name. Actually, his very first Academy Award nod came earlier, for *What’s Eating Gilbert Grape* when he was just 19, but *The Aviator* felt like he was truly being recognized as a leading man.

After the huge popularity of *Titanic*, Leonardo DiCaprio was seen as a teen idol, so taking on a serious role in the epic *The Aviator* marked a big shift for him. While he’d already worked with Martin Scorsese on *Gangs of New York*, *The Aviator* was really the film that made people recognize DiCaprio’s talent as a true actor. He showed incredible skill playing Howard Hughes, creating a compelling and layered portrayal. This role helped define the kind of actor DiCaprio would become known as.

It’s easy to understand why *The Aviator* is such a significant film for Leonardo DiCaprio. He clearly cared deeply about the project, as evidenced by how long he held onto the script and how much effort he put into developing his portrayal of Howard Hughes. This dedication became a hallmark of his work. Whether he’s playing a villain, like Calvin Candie in *Django Unchained*, or a determined father like Cobb in *Inception*, he consistently brings the same level of commitment. Working on *The Aviator* early in his career helped solidify his strong work ethic and laid the foundation for his success as a leading actor.

People always anticipate great things when Leonardo DiCaprio stars in a film, and his newest movie, *One Battle After Another*, is already receiving fantastic reviews and Oscar predictions before it even hits theaters this month. While *Titanic* launched DiCaprio to stardom and won numerous awards, including Best Picture, it was *The Aviator* that really demonstrated his incredible acting ability. He’ll likely carry the experiences and insights from *The Aviator* with him throughout his career.

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2025-09-16 21:15