In the 1990s, Hollywood was teeming with rising stars, and two of the brightest were Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio. But when the two teamed up for What did Gilbert Grape eattheir off-screen dynamic wasn’t quite what fans of the sibling relationship expected.
c What does Gilbert Grape eat?Depp stars as Gilbert, the older brother who protects DiCaprio’s character Arnie. Although their on-screen chemistry was captivating, Depp admitted in a recent interview that his interactions with the young DiCaprio weren’t always so warm. “It was a difficult moment for me, this film, for some reason. I was torturing Leo,” Depp revealed.
DiCaprio, who made waves in Hollywood with hits like This boy’s lifewas eager to learn and bond on set. But Depp, who fell into a “dark period”, did not always reciprocate. “Leo was talking about video games and I was just shutting him down,” Depp says, adding with a laugh, “I have a lot of respect for Leo — he really threw himself into that role.”
Looking back, Depp acknowledged DiCaprio’s dedication and hard work, noting that he truly respected his young co-star’s commitment, despite his own frustrations at the time. Today, fans can appreciate the contrast between Depp’s dark personality and DiCaprio’s youthful enthusiasm, a combination that added depth to their performances in the iconic film.
As their careers flourished, both actors became Hollywood icons in their own right. And while on Gilbert Grape may have had its share of tense moments, it’s clear that the experience shaped them both in unique ways, laying the foundation for their future successes in Hollywood.