A former employee has opened up about what it’s truly like working for Leonardo DiCaprio.
What is it really like working for Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio? Working for a celebrity can be exciting, and potentially intimidating, especially if your employer is one of the world’s most well-known actors.
Looking at his career, Leonardo DiCaprio has starred in numerous successful movies that have grossed over $100 million at the box office, most recently, Killers of the Flower Moon.
An in-demand star, DiCaprio is one of several celebs known to be passionate activists, and several times has shown he is a true environmentalist (although he’s known to travel in luxury). DiCaprio has been mostly private about his personal life, including a health struggle he rarely talks about. Some celebs have spoken about DiCaprio, (saying both good and bad things), but what is it like to work for him?
A former employee has opened up about what it’s truly like working for Leonardo DiCaprio.
Leoanrdo DiCaprio’s Former Assistant Said He Was Smart And Had A Wicked Sense Of Humor
Leonardo DiCaprio is known for bringing multiple characters to life. He got sick eating bison liver as a vegan while filming his Oscar-winning role on The Revenant. Several celebrities have spoken about what it’s like working with the Shutter Island actor on a project. But what is it to work for DiCaprio?
When Leonardo DiCaprio filmed 2004’s The Aviator, he hired Kasi Brown to be his assistant while filming. Brown’s friend had suggested the position to her. Brown had aspirations of being a filmmaker, and revealed via email to the Huffington Post, “She (a friend who’d previously worked with DiCaprio) asked me if I was interested in taking over the position. I thought, why not?”
Recalling what she discovered about him, Brown remarked that DiCaprio is “very smart” and has a “wicked sense of humor”. She added he was able to engage in discussions about multiple topics, like “politics, pop culture, history, you name it.”
Brown “was simultaneously embedded into DiCaprio’s day-to-day life and entrusted with protecting various aspects of it.” At times, Brown held an umbrella over DiCaprio’s head when he was outside his trailer, in order to obstruct the view of paparazzi. This helped ensure they “couldn’t snap photos of him making weird faces while he rehearsed,” per The Huffington Post. As his assistant, Brown realized why the Romeo & Juliet actor didn’t enjoy attracting constant attention.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Assistant Also Revealed That The Actor Doesn’t Take Himself Too Seriously
Working as Leonardo DiCaprio’s assistant, Kasi Brown got to know a side of the Titanic actor few others do. Brown revealed “Leo and I always had fun on set.” They “had fun” and connected over a mutual enjoyment of how both “love[d] to observe people and goof around playing characters, doing accents, whatever.”
Brown spoke about an inside joke with DiCaprio. She playfully pretended to be an overwhelmed employee, working for an extremely demanding star.
“Sometimes, I would pretend that he was the stereotype of an entitled celebrity. And when he would ask me to do something, I would bow and in a beaten-down voice say, ‘Yes, sir, anything you like sir, anything else, sir?’ and he would laugh and tell me to knock it off!”
Brown recalled she shares the same favorite holiday with The Revenant actor. “Halloween is my favorite holiday,” he’d revealed. After asking DiCaprio the reason, Brown remarked, “His face got serious, and he said he liked the anonymity. He said it was nice to be able to walk amongst people and interact with them without recognition. Just be like everybody else without any expectation.”
She added, “He’s extremely down to earth, and he likes to share stories and life experiences with people.” DiCapio wrote a kind parting note to Brown. “Kasi- I’m so glad you came on board! You have been awesome and so fun to be around. Thanks for all the good times and hard work! Hopefully we can work together again. Love Leo”
Leonardo DiCaprio Encouraged And Offered Support To His Employee
Working with Leonardo DiCaprio, Kasi Brown observed how DiCaprio would “get into character” for his role in The Aviator. “On the way to set one day, I saw that he kept stepping on all the cracks and spots on the floor in our path. He was playing Howard Hughes, who has OCD, and I realized that he was getting into character.”
Brown even stepped in for a scene that needed to be re-shot when the original actress wasn’t available. “When they cut, Marty came up to me and said, ‘You’re an actress!’ and Leo stepped off set and said, ‘Kasi!’ in an impressed voice. They both made me feel really good about my acting and the work that I was doing to learn everything I could on set while assisting Leo.”
Brown revealed that working as DiCaprio’s assistant gave her an amazing chance. “It would give me the opportunity, as a filmmaker, to watch Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio work. I’d be an idiot to turn down an opportunity like that!” Kasi Brown wrote/directed her own film, 2015’s Gone Doggy Gone, remarking DiCaprio “gave her encouragement all along the way”, per The Huffington Post.
Overall, having Leo as a boss sounds like fun. Also, working with an accomplished and experienced star like The Departed actor can open doors for employees showing promise, including those with hopes for a career in the film industry.