"Be more honest and not waste time": Leonardo DiCaprio shares his approach to relationships

Leonardo DiCaprio’s milestone 50th birthday has given him a fresh perspective on life and relationships. In a recent conversation with filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson for Esquire, published on August 13, the actor reflected on how turning 50 last November shifted his priorities.

“It creates a feeling like you have a desire to just be more honest and not waste your time. I can only imagine how the next few decades are going to progress,” he said.

It seem that he has undergone a change which has made him more direct about what and who he gives his energy to. These days, he’s not interested in sugar-coating things or keeping up appearances he’d rather be honest, even if that means a few tough conversations along the way.

He credits part of this shift to his mum, who has always spoken her mind without hesitation. Watching her over the years, Leonardo says he’s learned the importance of not pretending for the sake of politeness. At this stage, it’s about spending time with people who really matter and cutting out the unnecessary noise.

He said about his mother during the interview:

"I look at my mother, for example, and she just says exactly what she thinks and wastes no time. She spends no time trying to fake it."

Leonardo DiCaprio on being upfront in relationships

Leonardo DiCaprio explained that being more direct can sometimes lead to disagreements or even losing connections. But to him, that’s better than staying in situations that waste time.

"Being more upfront and risking having things fall apart or risk the disagreements or risk going your separate ways from any type of relationship in life—the personal, professional—it’s that you just don’t want to waste your time anymore. You have to just be much more upfront. When you realise more of your life is behind you than ahead, you just don’t want to waste any of it,” he said.

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It's not just romance this mindset carries over to friendships, professional relationships, and quite literally any relationship in his life. He now regards honesty as an obligation, even when it becomes slightly uncomfortable.

Despite his new approach, Leonardo DiCaprio insists he doesn't feel anywhere near 50. He joked that he "turned emotionally 35" recently.

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