8 Actors Who Seriously Regret Turning Down Iconic Movie Roles
3. Leonardo DiCaprio - Dirk Diggler (Boogie Nights)
Leonardo DiCaprio's career has been long and prosperous: he takes all the best roles in all the best films, and continues to shine as one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood.
But that doesn't mean for a second that he doesn't have a few career regrets, just like the rest of the world: DiCaprio is particularly sore about turning down Paul Thomas Anderson's brilliant film Boogie Nights, having been offered the role of up and coming pornstar Dirk Diggler (the role eventually went to Mark Wahlberg). In his own words, Leo said:
"My biggest regret is Boogie Nights. Im a huge fan of Paul Thomas Anderson but the first time I met him for that role I hadnt really seen much of his previous work. Now I love that movie.
Leo certainly could have played the role, but there's something that doesn't quite ring true about him playing Diggler; in the first instance of this phenomenon occurring, Mark Wahlberg might have actually been a better choice than Leonardo DiCaprio. Awkward.
Anyway, the role that Leo chose over Dirk Diggler was his part in Titanic, which pretty much made him the biggest heartthrob in the world. Swings and roundabouts, people.