Leonardo DiCaprio has described his role in the new gothic thriller Shutter Island as his most challenging to date. The 35-year-old actor plays Teddy Daniels, a hardened war veteran who investigates the disappearance of a killer from a fortress-like hospital for the criminally insane.
Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film sees DiCaprio's character become entangled in a dark mystery, fearing for his own sanity. Speaking at a press conference in London, DiCaprio said he needs to 'switch off' when at home to cope with such demanding roles.
'By sheer necessity to survive the film-making process I do switch off when I go home because if I don't, especially in roles as demanding as this... This is the most challenging one to date for me. Physically yes but emotionally more so,' he said.
DiCaprio described the story, which also stars Sir Ben Kingsley, as 'a complex jigsaw puzzle'. He noted that the production pushed his character 'to darker and darker places' and that dealing with extreme emotional trauma can 'rub off' on the actor.
The Hollywood star, previously Oscar-nominated for another Scorsese film, The Aviator, said he is drawn to emotionally moving characters. He expressed a desire to try other genres but admitted his choices ultimately depend on what moves him emotionally.
