“He was such an obsessed human being”: Even Leonardo DiCaprio, Who Keeps His Life a Secret, Could Not Imagine How Crazy His Character From The Aviator Was

Leonardo DiCaprio’s reflection on portraying Howard Hughes in The Aviator.

Throughout his extensive career spanning decades, Leonardo DiCaprio has embodied a diverse array of characters, ranging from romantic leads to extreme personas like Hugh Glass in The Revenant. However, there remains one that surprised the actor the most, particularly with his obsessive tendencies.

Leonardo DiCaprio in the Aviator | Miramax

The role was Howard Hughes in the 2004 biographical drama The Aviator. While the actor shared that he was able to relate to the character to a certain degree, Hughes’ level of obsession surpassed anything he could have envisioned.

Leonardo DiCaprio Was Surprised With Howard Hughes’ Obsessive Tendencies

Martin Scorsese’s 2004 film features Leonardo DiCaprio in the role of Howard Hughes, a pioneering aviator, filmmaker, and industrialist, depicting his rise to fame, struggles with mental health, and passion for aviation along with exploring his personal relationships.

Leonardo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes | Warner Bros.

The Oscar-winning actor has described Hughes as the “most multi-dimensional character” he has come across. He learned a lot about him through a book that he received before filming the movie. Even though on different grounds, he was also able to relate to the character regarding privacy.

However, it was limited to a certain extent, as he shared that the industrialist certainly pushed boundaries beyond his own imagination. Reflecting on Hughes’ obsessive nature, which he believed was influenced by OCD, he told Black Film,

“He was such an obsessed human being. He was so obsessive about everything he’d gotten involved with whether it be planes or women or films he made. And that is the direct result of his OCD. I wouldn’t go to those extremes.” 

The Aviator

However, he found common ground with Hughes in their shared pursuit of perfection, as he reflected on filming the ‘Hell’s Angels’ sequence. “You’re sitting there with the director trying to get things perfect,” he said before adding that it was something that resonated with both him and Scorsese.

Leonardo DiCaprio Struggled to Move On from His Role in The Aviator

During his conversation with Black Film, DiCaprio also shared that, unlike any other role he’s played, his role in The Aviator left a lasting impact on him. The actor, known for his versatile performances, shared that it’s not usually an issue for him to shake off a character.

“I’ve always been pretty good at being able to go home and be me again,” he said. However, that was not the case when it came to Howard Hughes, as it lingered with him significantly.

Leonardo DiCaprio | Image via Wikimedia Commons

The Titanic star further explained,

“I’d say more than any other character I’ve played in the past, this one stayed with me the most. Especially with this stuff having to do with obsessive-compulsive disorder.”

He reflected on how immersing himself in the character’s obsessive behaviors during filming caused those tendencies to resurface in his personal life. “Once you don’t stop yourself from doing that stuff, it can just go on and on and on,” he said.

DiCaprio also shared how it made him realize the challenging and consuming nature of the disorder and the distressing reality of individuals with genuine OCD who struggle with intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors.