The film What's Eating Gilbert Grape brought Leonardo DiCaprio his first Oscar nomination, a milestone in his career that solidified his talent early on. His portrayal of Arnie, a young man with intellectual disabilities, was so captivating that he outshone Johnny Depp, who played the lead role of Gilbert. The film, set in a small town, follows Gilbert as he struggles with the responsibility of caring for his family, especially his mother, who is bedridden, and Arnie, his brother.
Despite Depp's strong performance, it was DiCaprio’s nuanced, heartfelt portrayal of Arnie that truly stole the show, thanks to his meticulous preparation and the techniques he employed to ensure authenticity.
DiCaprio auditioned without preparation, impressing director Lasse Hallström by immediately adopting distinctive gestures and expressions to embody Arnie. He didn’t stop there—he studied the behavior of real people with intellectual disabilities, carefully mimicking their speech, movements, and reactions.
To make his performance as realistic as possible, DiCaprio also performed his own stunts, including a scene where he climbed a water tower without safety equipment. Aware of the potential for overacting, he consciously avoided caricature, regularly asking the director for feedback to keep his portrayal grounded.
Johnny Depp, in interviews, expressed his admiration for DiCaprio’s commitment, noting that he stayed in character even between takes. DiCaprio's authentic, dedicated approach to the role earned him critical acclaim and marked the beginning of his exceptional career.
