DiCaprio Regrets Boogie Nights Lead Part

Leonardo DiCaprio says his biggest career regret is not taking the lead in Boogie Nights, in a discussion with Paul Thomas Anderson.

DiCaprio Regrets Boogie Nights Lead Part

In a recent Esquire interview conducted with director Paul Thomas Anderson, Leonardo DiCaprio reveals that his biggest regret is not taking the lead role in Boogie Nights (1997). The film, which helped launch Anderson’s career and earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay, ultimately went to Mark Wahlberg after DiCaprio passed. DiCaprio notes that he cannot imagine anyone else in the part, a confession that shines a rare light on the choices behind famous performances.

The exchange comes as Anderson prepares to release One Battle After Another on September 26. DiCaprio stars as a former revolutionary in the new thriller, which also features a broad ensemble including Sean Penn, Regina Hall, Alana Haim and others. The project marks a high-profile collaboration between two figures long associated with intense, character-driven cinema.

DiCaprio’s confession offers a window into how careers are shaped by split-second decisions that seem small at the time. It also highlights the pull of strong collaborations; DiCaprio and Anderson have yet to team up on a project before this new film, which adds a note of intrigue about what their combined vision might produce. The admission will likely be seen as humanizing, reminding fans that even award-winning actors measure success against a list of what-ifs. The wider lesson for audiences is about risk, timing, and the unpredictable streaks that steer a life in the arts.

Highlights

The conversation hints that even a storied path can bend on a single decision.