LEAVING HOME...

A poem.....by: Leonardo DiCaprio

Leaving home
Burning the roof of my mouth
Kind of anxiety.

Through a mini-blinded window
Dissecting clouds aren't about to leave.
I take them in my arms,
A hug that is only vapor,
And leaves only doubt in my mind.

Moisture thickness enough to hold on to
But the ink runs together on the only
Proof I have of my worth

The cloud may pass through me
It's thick white warmth inside
And passing through my back
As easily as it entered.

But who would believe that
When I can't even believe myself.
The cloud that surrounds me now is
Cold and miserable and dark as the earth.

I've built it myself of
Blood and tendons and impassible skin,
Its shadow can't be outrun.

I walk dizzily on angled pavement
Peering out at the walking feet of strangers
I can see my friends beyond the edge of my fog
They smile at me, walk on by

But the wind of their departure
Does not clear the smog from around my body
Around my neck
Choking me, strangling the life I live
In the blink of an eye

The ground below me may collapse
Swallowing me into a man-made sewer
With my self-made cloud tagging along

I don't like sunny days anyways
And the haze around me sleeps with me at night
And perches on the books I read
Keeps me from being what I dread most...

Being alone.

So much has been reported about this young actor and his role as the charismatic Jack Dawson in Titanic. This role has won him a world wide audience and with that, the multi-million dollar salary that goes with it. He had his reservations about this character, and did not commit to it until three months after his audition......when Jim Cameron finally convinced him that playing someone who is an 'open book', with no internal angst, pure to the core, and so charismatic that he is irresistable, would be as much of a challenge as the characters in his previous work. Cameron says, "Once I was able to convince him that the challenge was a '10'....he became more interested in doing it!"

To his fans who watched him in his early years, playing the intense, emotionally and physically abused young son of Ellen Barkin in This Boy's Life, who fell in love with one of his most triumphant characters - Arnie Grape in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and who witnessed his outstanding performance as the heroin addicted high school basketball star, Jim Carroll in The Basketball Diaries - he possesses a rare, natural and unique instinctive acting talent. That amazing talent, along with the phenomenal ability to inject a rare sensitivity and emotional depth into the characters he plays is a gift to his audience, and that gift has given him the respect of the industry and an Academy Award nomination. He hasn't looked back since - his talent has been praised by every director, film maker and actor that he has ever worked with. He is now the most sought after young actor in Hollywood and around the world. We, his legion of fans, love him for the "little acting genius" that he is; the camera loves him for the beauty that he is!

His choices of roles has been interesting and challenging, his dedication to improving his craft always seems to be his first priority. I look forward with great interest to the coming years as Leonardo matures and and works diligently towards fulfilling his dreams! I can't wait to see what the future brings this young talented shining star, and I am so happy to sit back and reap the benefits as he works towards making his dreams turn into reality!

Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Gangs of New York (2001)
Don's Plum (international release only) (2000)
Beach, The (2000)
Celebrity (1998)
Man in the Iron Mask, The (1998)
Titanic (1997)
Marvin's Room (1996)
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Total Eclipse (1995)
Basketball Diaries, The (1995)
Quick and the Dead, The (1995)
Cent et une nuits, Les (1995)
Foot Shooting Party, The (1994)
This Boy's Life (1993)
What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Poison Ivy (1992)
Critters 3 (1991)

Achievements and Awards

American MovieGoer Award for Best Actor (Drama) in Titanic

Best Male Performance (1998) at MTV Movie Awards for Titanic

Favorite Actor (Drama) at the Blockbuster Awards for Titanic

E! Entertainment Golden Hanger Award for Male Trendsetter of the Year

Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor (Drama) in Titanic

Best Male Performance Nominee (1997) at MTV Movie Awards for Romeo & Juliet

Screen Actors Guild Award Nominated for Outstanding Performance - Marvin's Room (1996)

Academy Award nomination for What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)

Golden Globe nomination for What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)

Best Supporting Actor Award from the National Board of Review (1993)

New Generation Award from Los Angeles Film Critics Association for both What's Eating Gilbert Grape? and This Boy's Life (1993)

Premiere Reader's Poll   -    Best Newcomer (1993)

Most Promising Actor from the Chicago Film Critics for both What's Eating Gilbert Grape? and This Boy's Life

The American Youth Awards  -   Actor of the Year This Boy's Life  1993 - 1994

Runner-up for Best Supporting Actor from New York Film Critics Association and the National Society of Film Critics for This Boy's Life

Golden Samovar Award in the Moscow Film Festival for Marvin's Room

Blockbuster Awards "Favorite Romance Actor" 1996 for Romeo and Juliet

Silver Berlin Bear Award for Best Actor in Romeo & Juliet from 47th Berlin International Film Festival

Italy's 2001 Valentino Award given in recognition to those who contributed to the cinema with their charisma and ability, in the way Valentino himself did.