“Getting your foot in the door and having a career is like winning the lottery. I've always felt ‘Okay, now I've gotten this shot; I'm lucky to have gotten this shot, and if I don't do this to the best of my ability — if I don't work my ass off and make a life of it — I've squandered this incredibly golden opportunity.’ And that's always been what has propelled me." – Leonardo DiCaprio
Whether you believe, or doubt, that you have what it takes to win at life is irrelevant. More importantly, are you willing to put in the work that is necessary to keep moving forward?
The credits under Hollywood’s leading man Leonardo DiCaprio’s belt demonstrate that one big break can propel anyone to the top of his or her game – but it’s a concentrated effort that keeps you there. The trajectory of his ever-evolving acting career is no accident and to this day, even I have yet to see a movie starring this fine performer that I didn’t like. That is at least, not taking Danny Boyle’s adventure drama “The Beach” and Martin Scorsese’s historical crime drama “Gangs of New York” into consideration, since I didn’t watch either of those films in their entirety.
Although DiCaprio rose to stardom for his portrayal as the poor man Jack Dawson in James Cameron’s romantic drama “Titanic,” he was already positioning himself alongside Hollywood heavyweights such as Robert De Niro. The big screen adaptation of Tobias Wolff’s memoir This Boy’s Life wasn’t even on my radar until a friend told me about it -- after “Titanic” came out in theaters. DiCaprio’s performance as a troubled teenager named Toby, opposite De Niro playing Toby’s abusive step-father in “This Boy’s Life,” gave promise to what has become the fabric of this man’s accomplishments – an unrelenting quest for the next best project.
DiCaprio knew early on – since he was around 15 years old – that pursuing characters with depth are more valuable than appearing in just any film, for the sake of a bigger paycheck. He put the potential of building a career in movies before any desire for fame and, more particularly, fortune.
As a kid who just wanted to act and would’ve been content doing television commercials, Leonardo DiCaprio does not take his strides as a film star for granted. When given the choice between two films, DiCaprio goes for the project he believes will help him remain a front runner in show business. This is someone who takes his job seriously enough to stay on track, not letting anything get in the way of what he wants.
“Titanic” was just the tip of the iceberg (no pun intended) – Leonardo DiCaprio reeks of success in terms of movies he chooses to work on. A rough patch with “The Beach” and “Man in the Iron Mask” during the slow period of his career didn’t stop him – he kept at it, looking for good material and finally found his footing again, upon the releases of Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me If You Can” and Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York.” These crime dramas indicated that he had more to offer than being the poor artist-hero, romancing rich women and saving people on sinking ships.
DiCaprio was on a roll by 2006, as an undercover cop in Scorsese’s highly acclaimed crime thriller “The Departed,” which shined during awards season. Although the movie opened at #1 and remained in top box office spots for weeks, this Golden Globe nominee (for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama) refused to rest on his laurels, just as he didn’t back in 1997 when “Titanic” became the highest grossing film of all time (until Cameron made “Avatar”). Rather than take a break from the big screen or experiment with roles in risky projects, Leonardo DiCaprio’s quick follow up as a South African diamond smuggler in Edward Zwick’s war thriller “Blood Diamond” indicated that he was on another level with regards to obtaining longevity in one’s career.
In the last eight years, we watched him in a new movie – or two – released annually, much to the enjoyment of audiences worldwide. From the moment that this three-time Oscar nominated actor got his groove in “The Departed” (or “Catch Me If You Can” even) he continues to get better with each project. I’ve also noticed how films starring DiCaprio are lauded among his peers as well as critics and with the exception of the few cases where some of these movies have negative reviews, all of them still turn a profit.
The box office results tell me that audiences generally have a favorable response to his choice in projects, even when the industry thinks otherwise. Baz Luhrmann’s romantic drama “The Great Gatsby” – DiCaprio’s latest movie, where he plays a mysterious millionaire named Jay Gatsby, is no different. The film is his second highest grossing project, behind “Inception,” despite receiving poor reviews by critics.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s talent is undeniable. His consistency and intent on steering his career in the direction that feels right for what he wants out of life, however, is what schools the rest of us on how to progress in our own lives.
We benefit when our decision making supports growth and a willingness to be at our very best when reaching every open door on the path we’re pursuing. It is not enough to find an opportunity and seize it. Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t just make producers/directors seek him out for their movies and audiences look forward to seeing him on screen – he sets himself in a position where we look forward to him to coming back, time and time again.
Like DiCaprio, you must figure out a way to keep yourself in the game – never squander the chance to take yourself to the next level. Instead, use it to bring you another opportunity and so on. If you don't know know where to start, try learning from the man who shows us what it means to aim high.
In an interview with Refinery 29, Leonardo DiCaprio said that Gatsby is the “manifestation of his own dreams.” Based on the evolution of DiCaprio's acting career, it would not be far off to say that his life mirrors that of Gatsbys, in the sense of not only making dreams become a reality -- but sustaining those dreams as well.
Can YOU describe an experience where one opportunity or another helped you move closer to (or made it possible for you to obtain) a professional or personal objective of yours?
What movie would YOU say gave Leonardo DiCaprio his big break?