The beginning of Leonardo DiCaprio’s career, which was characterized by humble endeavors here and there, took a sudden turn when the talent managed to land himself a role in a big-budget western directed by Sam Raimi.
Turns out, that the Hollywood icon’s acting abilities and character embodiment had made a significant impression on The Quick and the Dead co-star Sharon Stone, who was prepared to pay any price—most of which came from her own pocket—to bring him on board with the project.
In her memoir, titled The Beauty of Living Twice, the industry diva, known primarily for her portrayal of femme fatale characters, recalled auditioning many teenagers for a role that ultimately went to DiCaprio. None of the people that auditioned managed to pull off what the Titanic alum was capable of. He was an enigmatic force to reckon with and Stone simply wasn’t willing to let go—despite several hesitations expressed by TriStar Pictures, the production company responsible for the 1995 film.
Sharon Stone Vouched For Leonardo DiCaprio
The on-screen actor is particularly renowned all across the globe for his tenacious demeanor, adaptability, and capacity to flawlessly embody every role handed to him. There’s a reason why highly esteemed directors like Martin Scorsese and Christopher Nolan have maintained a strong association with the 48-year-old actor. He’s simply the favorite of top-class Hollywood directors. Therefore, the current level of fame and acclaim that Leonardo DiCaprio enjoys could not have been possible if his skills didn’t make an impact on the people in the industry.
One of the first people to recognize The Revenant actor’s brilliance and expertise was Sharon Stone, who fought especially hard for the actor to be a part of the 1995 Sam Raimi-directed endeavor, The Quick and the Dead. The popular ’90s actress was particularly moved by the then-up-and-coming DiCaprio’s audition for the film.
In her autobiography, she recalls it in the following manner:
“This kid named Leonardo DiCaprio was the only one who nailed the audition, in my opinion: he was the only one who came in and cried, begging his father to love him as he died in the scene,”
While Stone was willing to vouch for the actor, TriStar Pictures, the production company behind the film, was not too sure about casting an industry rookie. The studio asked the Hollywood siren, “Why an unknown, Sharon, why are you always shooting yourself in the foot?” The Basic Instinct actress had been told by the studio that if she wanted to keep the talented actor in the project, she could choose to pay for his wages out of her own salary.
And Sharon Stone did exactly that.
While Sam Raimi’s The Quick and the Dead reaped mixed reception and amassed $18 million at the US and Canadian box office, it still was an important stepping stone in DiCaprio’s career; one of the many big-budget endeavors that ultimately led to his fame, stardom, and recognition.
Leonardo DiCaprio Thought Sharon Stone Was Sweet
In an interview with The Morning Call, DiCaprio briefly expressed his sentiments about co-star Sharon Stone. Much to his dismay, the actress turned out to be quite different than her on-screen counterpart.
DiCaprio stated, “I expected her to be this big s*x vixen, seducing everyone. But she was sweet,” While the actor was appreciative of Stone’s good-natured, charming personality, what he did not enjoy was the kiss he shared with the talent—which, too, completely went against the actor’s initial perceptions.
Following was his statement:
“To tell you the truth, it wasn’t that great. She grabbed me by the back of my hair and pushed her lips on mine and then threw my head away. It didn’t feel like a real kiss,”
Regardless of the expectations he may have had about the actress, it can be ascertained without a doubt that Sharon Stone’s decision to fight for DiCaprio’s stay in The Quick and the Dead, by having to spend her own money, was a genuine act of kindness—a deed that helped the up-and-coming actor land one of his first big-budget movie roles.
Hence, Leonardo DiCaprio has a lot to thank Sharon Stone for.
The Quick and the Dead is available on Prime Video.
Source: The Morning Call
