CNN
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James Cameron is sharing some surprising details about the making of his blockbuster Titanic, which celebrates its 25th anniversary next month.
In a new video interview with GQThe acclaimed director has revealed that he almost missed out on casting Leonardo DiCaprio or Kate Winslet, his two romantic leads whose careers as major Hollywood movie stars were cemented by the landmark Oscar-winning film.
When considering actors to play his star-crossed lovers on the doomed ocean liner, Cameron explained that he had originally thought of someone like Gwyneth Paltrow to play Rose, and that although Winslet had been suggested as an option, he feared she was too typecast.
“I didn’t actually see Kate at first,” he said in the video. “She also starred in a couple of other period dramas and earned a reputation as 'Kate in a Corset' by starring in period films.” (It's true that the Reader actress's three credits before Titanic were also historical costume dramas: Sense and Sensibility in 1995, followed by Jude and Hamlet a year later.)
Cameron went on to say that he was afraid that casting Winslet in the role would “look like the laziest casting call in the world,” but he nevertheless eventually agreed to meet with her. Of course, he thought it was “fantastic” and the rest is history.
But with DiCaprio there were some hiccups at first.
After a first “hysterical” meeting with the heartthrob actor, during which all the women from the production office somehow ended up in the conference room with Cameron, DiCaprio was invited back to screen test with Winslet, who had already been cast in the role.
But when the Romeo + Juliet star showed up, he was surprised to learn that he would have to read lines and act alongside Winslet to gauge their chemistry on camera.
“He came in and thought it was another meeting with Kate,” Cameron said.
He recalled telling the couple, “We'll just run a few lines and I'll videotape it.”
But then DiCaprio, who had by then appeared in several films and was nominated for an Oscar for 1993's What's Eating Gilbert Grape, told Cameron, “You mean I read?… I don't read,” meaning he was no longer auditioning for film roles.
Without missing a beat, Cameron extended his hand to the star and told him, “Well, thanks for stopping by.”
The director then explained to DiCaprio the enormity of the project ahead of them, how the film would take up two years of his life, and that he “wasn't going to screw it up by making the wrong casting decisions.”
“So, you're going to read, or you're not going to get the part,” Cameron told the young actor.
DiCaprio reluctantly complied, to his credit.
Cameron recalled how the actor “lit up” and “became Jack”, creating an electric chemistry with Winslet that was later clearly visible in the film itself.
Titanic was released in theaters on December 19, 1997, and ended up winning 11 Oscars, including Best Director for Cameron.
