Beyond the Oscar: DiCaprio's True Unattainable Hollywood Goal

Anyone active online around 2016 surely remembers the flood of memes centered on Leonardo DiCaprio’s lack of an Academy Award. It became a running joke that an actor with such a distinguished resume had yet to claim one of Hollywood's top honors. Fans would point to his powerful work in films from What’s Eating Gilbert Grape to Shutter Island, wondering when he would finally get his due. The narrative finally shifted that year when he won Best Actor for his grueling role as Hugh Glass in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s The Revenant, prompting one social media user to declare, “RIP Leo’s Oscars meme.”

A Different Kind of Trophy

With that particular milestone finally achieved, one might think the actor had conquered his biggest professional challenge. However, DiCaprio had long maintained a different perspective, suggesting he had placed that outcome in the hands of fate while focusing on the craft itself. “It’s never ever what I’m thinking about when I’m making movies,” he once stated. “There’s nothing I’ve done for the specific reason of getting an award. Every single time, you just go in there trying to bat a thousand, trying to give it your all.”

He did acknowledge the human element, admitting he “wouldn’t be human” if the thought of winning never crossed his mind. It's only natural to desire recognition for work you pour your heart into. But the goals that truly motivate him are far less tangible than a golden statue; they are rooted in a much deeper appreciation for his art form.

Chasing Cinematic Ghosts

For DiCaprio, the ultimate professional achievement is the creation of a true magnum opus. During a 2012 interview with Back Stage while promoting Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar, he articulated this personal quest. “With every role that I’ve chosen or every movie I’ve been a part of, I always think about the unbelievable accomplishments of actors and directors in the past and how many great performances have been given, and how many great films there have been in cinema’s history. And I have a great amount of respect for that,” he explained.

He then revealed the core of his ambition. “I suppose my endless, unattainable goal is to do something that is as good as I see in cinema’s past,” DiCaprio shared. “And I don’t know if I will ever, on a personal level, believe that I have accomplished that. I don’t know if I’ll ever sit here and see a film and say, ‘This is absolutely everything I ever dreamed of on a personal or cinematic level.’ But that’s what sort of drives me.”

An Audience Divided

Whether he has met that lofty standard since making that statement is a matter of debate. He has certainly starred in films destined to be remembered for decades, such as The Great Gatsby, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Killers of the Flower Moon, not to mention the very film that won him the award. From the viewpoint of the audience, however, a strong case could be made that he had already reached that pinnacle long before his 2012 remarks. Many would point to iconic performances in Catch Me If You Can, The Beach, Romeo + Juliet, The Aviator, or even the global phenomenon that was Titanic.

It seems unlikely that DiCaprio will ever share that sentiment about his own work, a common trait among artists who have dedicated their lives to their craft. This is especially true for those who have been in the industry as long as he has. When you hold the golden era of film in such high regard, viewing it as a sacred and magical period, it becomes nearly impossible for your own contributions to ever feel like they measure up.