When Leonardo DiCaprio Almost Blew His Titanic Role — But James Cameron Outsmarted Him With This Genius Move
How Did James Cameron Convince Leonardo DiCaprio To Consider Titanic? ( Photo Credit – Instagram ) Some casting choices fall into place so perfectly, they feel like they were meant to happen all along. Leonardo DiCaprio stepping into the role of Jack Dawson in Titanic sits right up there with the most seamless ones. You watch it now, and it’s hard to picture anyone else sketching Kate Winslet or shouting from the ship’s bow like he owns the ocean. But the part didn’t land in his lap without a few bumps. Leonardo DiCaprio: Hollywood’s Young Star With Standards At The Time DiCaprio was only 21 when Titanic came along and was already a force to be reckoned with. He’d squared off with Robert De Niro (This Boy’s Life), caught Sharon Stone’s attention (The Quick and the Dead), and collected an Oscar nod for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. For him, earning critical praise was not new, and he wasn’t keen on auditions anymore. So, when James Cameron suggested a screen test, DiCaprio bristled. Maybe he thought …

