Everyone knows the story about how Irmalin DiCaprio was looking at the masterpieces in the Uffizi galery in Florence, when her unborn baby gave her a swift kick. So the name Leonardo followed, for the painting she was gazing at was by da Vinci (probably the "Announciation"). After getting out of the Uffizi, I walked in the streets and discovered something that made me think: "He really became popular during these last few years!" There was a man in the center selling portraits that he had painted of Leonardo DiCaprio. Raised in the "Hollywood Slums", Leonardo Dicaprio started acting at five, on "Romper Room", but didn't have success as a child actor. Then, at the age of fourteen, he made several comercials after finding the right agent. He soon was to be seen on TV-shows such as "Santa Barbara", "The New Lassie", and ever "Roseanne". His first movie was the flop "Critters 3", made 1991, and that same year, he could be seen on "Growing Pains" or "Parenthood" as well. 1993, he finally succeeded to get the role of Tobias Wolff in "This Boy's Life", a role which hundreds of boys were hoping to get. Being among the leads with Robert De Niro and Ellen Barkin, he could finally show what he had in store, and that was excellent and dramatic acting. He "pushed" De Niro in the background and finally became a real actor. An Oscar Nomination followed in 1994, when Lasse Hallström directed "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", with DiCaprio in the role of the retarted Arnie Grape, brother of Gilbert (played by Johnny Depp). The critics were good and the people really thought that the boy who was playing Arnie was retarded - the nomination for the best supporting actor followed. "Nobody was as happy as I for not getting the Oscar," grinned Leonardo. "I would have done something really embarrassing - cried or so." Even though "Marvin's Room"(1996) or the modern tragedy of Romeo and Juliet didn't grant him an Oscar, he will sure get it if he continues to act the way he does. He has done movies that were good only because of him, such as "The Quick and the Dead"(1994), "Basketball Diaries"(1995) and "Total Eclipse", but he hasn't regretted them. Leonardo chose to act in these movies since he could play with the characters, and make them alive. Even Romeo seemed to be an experiment done by Leonardo DiCaprio, since he made him a desparate, "bewildered by the reality"-character, but one that is worth watching on the screen. Extra Info: •Born 11 November 1974 as Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio •His Italian father George and German mother Irmalin live separated but help him with his career. •Education: Center for Enriched Studies •If you accidently walked through the streets of Paris on the 3 June, you had the chance to see him in disguise with black sunglasses on. •Movies to look for: "Titanic", "Don's Plum", as well as a new Woody Allen project. •Addresses: Leonardo DiCaprio c/o CAA 9830 Wilshire Boulevard Beverly Hills, CA 90212 or Leonardo DiCaprio; c/o Baker, Winokur, Ryder; 405 South Beverly Drive #500; Beverly Hills; CA 90212
