Leonardo DiCaprio is a well-known actor who has starred in many popular films including Titanic, Wolf of Wall Street, The Great Gatsby (2013), and many others. Most, but not all, actors and actresses who have a reputable track record in the film industry had a leg-up on outsiders when they started because of extensive preparation, being born into wealth, and a strong network of insiders who got them into the industry. However, Leonardo had just the opposite.
How was his upbringing different from most actors in Hollywood?
Leonardo was surrounded by drugs, violence, and many other crimes alike at a very young age. He witnessed people injecting themselves with drugs, constituting prostitution rings, and even dropped out of high school because of the consistently negative environment he always witnessed (Goalcast, 2024, par. 5). Despite dropping out of high school when he was 16, he knew he wanted to make something of himself.
What contributed to his success?
Even though his parents were divorced, they were still very involved in his life and were extremely supportive. His father always told him, “Success is not actually what matters, what matters is making every moment count” (Goalcast, 2024, par. 7). He applied that to everything he did and did not give up. He was jobless for nearly 18 months into his acting career and only got accepted into commercials here and there. Eventually, he ended up landing his spot in Titanic. After a long, hard-fought, up-hill journey he finally earned his American dream despite all the setbacks. Had he given up, however, the public would have never known about him.
Reference:
Goalcast editors. (2024). Leonardo DiCaprio Shows Humble Backgrounds Don’t Have To Be A Barrier To Success. Retrieved from: https://www.goalcast.com/leonardo-dicaprio-rough-childhood/