Leonardo DiCaprio may have missed out on the Best Actor award at the Baftas, but he made sure to honour the most important woman in his life: his mother, Irmelin Indenbirken. The 41-year-old actor attended the ceremony with his mother, and during his speech, he paid tribute to her unwavering support throughout his career.
DiCaprio revealed that he did not grow up in a life of privilege, but in a rough neighbourhood in east Los Angeles. He credited his mother for driving him three hours a day to a different school to give him a better opportunity. 'It's her birthday today. Mom, happy birthday. I love you very much,' he said.
The actor's close bond with his mother stems from his challenging upbringing. Irmelin and her husband George DiCaprio separated soon after Leonardo was born in 1974. Despite the separation, George moved in next door to ensure his son had a father figure, but it was Irmelin who bore the brunt of raising him in the unsalubrious LA district of Los Feliz.
DiCaprio has often spoken about the crime and violence he witnessed as a child, which he claims put him off drugs for life. His mother arranged for his TV debut at age five, but he was fired for being too disruptive. Despite early setbacks, DiCaprio's career took off after his first film role in 1993, and he has since become one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.
