When you spot a very young actor in a movie or on TV, you never know if you’ll get to see them grow into their talents over the years. Many performers who start out as kids or young teenagers end up losing their charm and awkwardly grow out of their cuteness when they reach adulthood. However, Leonardo DiCaprio, whose career began with small television roles in the early 1990s, has been more fortunate than most. His skills and instincts have continuously evolved, and even today it feels like he’s still maturing in his craft.
His two breakout roles in 1993 have truly shaped his career. In This Boy’s Life, he portrayed a teenager trapped under the oppression of his abusive stepfather. And in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, he played a very different character, a mentally disabled youth about to turn 18 but unable to live independently. These performances changed the trajectory of DiCaprio’s career and set him apart in Hollywood.
Fast forward to the present, his latest role in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon takes us back to 1993. In the movie, he plays Ernest Burkhart, the nephew of corrupt cattle baron William Hale, portrayed by Robert De Niro. Ernest becomes entangled in a plot to marry and kill off a wealthy family, including his wife. This performance showcases a more middle-aged DiCaprio, displaying the emotional turmoil of his character with grace and depth.
Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower MoonApple TV+
DiCaprio, born in 1974, is approaching 50, and his role in Killers is perhaps the first one in which he truly embodies a middle-aged character. His portrayal of Ernest’s emotional conflict is gripping and compelling, showing a different side to his acting abilities. It’s a testament to his continuing evolution as an actor.
