Leonardo DiCaprio Says Directing Isn’t for Him, Reflects on Missed Moments on Set
Hollywood star admits he prefers acting to directing and wishes he had observed more behind the scenes during past projects
NEW YORK, Dec 15: Leonardo DiCaprio, the Oscar-winning actor known for portraying dreamers, criminals, and complex characters, has confirmed that directing is not in his plans. Speaking at the ‘A Year in TIME’ event alongside filmmaker Martin Scorsese, DiCaprio addressed the question he is frequently asked about moving behind the camera and gave a firm “no.”
DiCaprio said he does not believe he could achieve what Scorsese accomplishes as a director and feels attempting to direct would be futile. Instead, the 51-year-old actor reflected on his journey in front of the camera, admitting that there were moments he wished he had stepped back to simply watch the filmmaking process unfold.
“Acting demands complete emotional focus,” he explained. “You dive deep into your character, trying to understand their thoughts and motivations. Sometimes, that focus meant I missed the chance to observe how films are shaped behind the scenes.”
While not expressing regret, DiCaprio acknowledged a lingering curiosity about the art of directing and the inner workings of film production that he wishes he had explored earlier in his career.
