The earliest memories I have are jumping up onstage before concerts in downtown L.A. and trying to get on the mic and break-dance, or do imitations of my mother’s friends or my father’s friends, or be a comic in class. I was the most insane child you can imagine, pretty intolerable to be around. High-octane energy all the time, never wanting to focus on schoolwork.
Probably the only thing I knew with complete clarity was that I wanted to be an actor. But there was a lot of rejection early on, and so it never felt like, Hey, I’ve got something here. There was always an element of me that needed to prove something to myself. It’s something I don’t want to get rid of, because it’s what drives me. I’m never settled and I’m never satisfied.
I do try to think of myself in the long term. But I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like in the future. So all I can tell you is, I haven’t quenched my thirst.
| — | From the Cal Fussman interview with Leonardo DiCaprio in Esquire. I used to hate Leonardo DiCaprio, because he was a pretty boy actor in a stupid movie, Titanic. But underneath that kid was a man who grew up, and underneath that face was a wise person. |