Leonardo DiCaprio has revealed that his biggest career regret was turning down the lead role in Paul Thomas Anderson's 1997 film Boogie Nights. The Oscar-winning actor was offered the part but had to decline due to his commitment to James Cameron's Titanic.
The role eventually went to Mark Wahlberg, who had previously found fame as rapper Marky Mark. Boogie Nights went on to become a modern classic, launching Anderson's career and establishing Wahlberg as a dramatic actor.
In an interview with Anderson for Esquire, DiCaprio said: 'I'll say it even though you're here: My biggest regret is not doing Boogie Nights. It was a profound movie of my generation.' He added: 'I can't imagine anyone but Mark in it. When I finally got to see that movie, I just thought it was a masterpiece.'
Despite the global success of Titanic, DiCaprio has long viewed Boogie Nights as the one that got away. The two are finally collaborating on the upcoming action thriller One Battle After Another, in which DiCaprio plays a former revolutionary whose daughter goes missing.
