Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio are among some of the most celebrated and respected names in Hollywood. The two have given several masterpieces and have also worked together on the 1993 drama What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Both actors were acclaimed for their work in the movie, and DiCaprio even landed his first Oscar nomination at the 66th Academy Awards.
However, things reportedly were not that great behind the scenes, as Depp has admitted that he “tortured” his co-star while working on the movie. It is alleged that the actor’s behavior was influenced by his split from actress Winona Ryder.
Johnny Depp Was Miserable While Filming With Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio, who was still in the early years of his career, was eager to star alongside the seasoned actor Johnny Depp. The actor has shared that he even turned down the offer to star in the cult classic Hocus Pocus for the 1993 film.
However, it wasn’t the best time for the Pirates of the Caribbean star, who went through a breakup just months before the movie’s release. He was engaged to Winona Ryder for three years. But they called it off and decided to split due to media pressure, as revealed by Depp.
During an interview at the 2016 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the actor opened up about working with the Titanic star. He shared that Dicaprio “worked really hard” on the film, and he respects him a lot. However, he also added that he “tortured” his co-star.
“I tortured him,” he said before adding, “I really did, I actually did.” The actor explained that young DiCaprio would often talk about video games, and he was not in the mood to talk about such things, as it was “kind of a dark period” for him.
Johnny Depp on His And Winona Ryder’s Split
Johnny Depp reportedly first saw Winona Ryder at the premiere of Great Balls of Fire! in New York City. And it was love at first sight for the actor. However, the two later met through a mutual friend and started dating soon after that. The former couple also co-starred in the 1990 film Edward Scissorhands.
Depp soon popped the question, and they were engaged. However, after three years of engagement, they announced their split. While the Stranger Things star’s representatives claimed that they were “young, and they grew apart,” Depp blamed the constant media interference for their split.
During a 1993 interview with The Los Angeles Times, the Oscar-nominated actor said, “My relationship with Winona, it was my mistake to be as open as we were.” His statement also suggested that their relationship became a victim of social and media pressure.
“It’s very hard to have a personal life in this town,” he said, suggesting that the constant media attention led to their split. While nothing has been said about it, potentially it could have been the reason for Depp feeling miserable while filming the 1993 film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is available on Paramount+.
