In a recent interview with Deadline<\/a>, the One Battle After Another actor, 51, addressed the idea that not choosing to star in Boogie Nights was his “greatest regret,” DiCaprio explained.<\/p>\n “Well, I think that was my answer to a question in the guise of speaking to [Paul Thomas Anderson<\/a>], and, without getting too personal about my own life, the question was, ‘What do you regret most?’ We were sitting here talking about movies. It came from the standpoint of just being a fan of his work for so long,” he explained, referencing the remarks he made in\u00a0Esquire<\/a>‘s Mavericks of Hollywood issue in August.<\/p>\n Of Boogie Nights, he continued, “I do remember watching that movie and it being just a lightning rod moment for my generation. It was like the arrival of a new cinematic titan, one who was speaking to my generation.”<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer\u200b\u200b, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n Alberto E. Rodriguez\/Getty; Paul Citone\/Variety via Getty<\/p>\n Leonardo DiCaprio (left), Mark Wahlberg<\/p>\n “Now, I don\u2019t think anyone could have done a better job than Mark Wahlberg<\/a> in that movie, so I said it from the perspective of being just a really sincere fan and then watching the way Paul has progressed as a storyteller with these very esoteric, existential films he\u2019s made since then that keep you thinking.”<\/p>\n “Boogie Nights\u00a0was the launching pad for a new artist. So, it\u2019s less about that specific film and more about wanting to have worked with Paul.”<\/p>\n Wahlberg, 54, famously played Eddie Adams\/Dirk Diggler in the 1997 film, but the part was originally offered to DiCaprio, 50, who turned it down as he had already signed on to star in\u00a0James Cameron<\/a>‘s epic\u00a0Titanic<\/a>.<\/p>\n CBS via Getty <\/p>\n Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as Jack and Rose in “Titanic”<\/p>\n Looking back on the decision, DiCaprio said, “No regrets. I mean, fully now in retrospect, I look back at that film and realize the thanks and the appreciation that I have for being a part of it, and to have been able to be in this incredibly fortunate position and not only to have been a part of that movie, but to be able to be the conductor of my own choices since. That has been just the greatest gift.”<\/p>\n “The dilemma for me at that point, was, of course, I would\u2019ve loved to have done both movies, but it just couldn\u2019t happen at that moment. And then, here we are, all these years later and it\u2019s this great sort of reconnection. We\u2019ve gone on these paths together, and then to come back around and be able to collaborate with Paul on this is just amazing,” he continued.<\/p>\n “But yeah, I mean that moment, I don\u2019t know what my ability or my career would\u2019ve been without that film making it possible to be able to steer the course of my own career. So, I\u2019m very thankful.”<\/p>\n![\"Alberto](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/59eb3675e825b3b62a9c69d328e6ce87.jpeg\"\/)
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