In a heartwarming display of support, veteran actress Sharon Stone revealed that she once paid Leonardo DiCaprio’s salary out of her own pocket when a studio refused to cast him.
Stone, who starred alongside DiCaprio in the 1995 Western “The Quick and the Dead,” was adamant about working with the young actor, who was still relatively unknown at the time. However, the studio was hesitant to cast him, believing he didn’t have the star power to draw audiences.
Undeterred, Stone took matters into her own hands and offered to pay DiCaprio’s salary herself. She recalled the studio asking her, “Why an unknown, Sharon, why are you always shooting yourself in the foot?”
Despite the studio’s skepticism, Stone’s decision to back DiCaprio proved to be a wise one. The film, though not a commercial success, was praised for its performances, and DiCaprio’s star power would soon skyrocket with the release of “Titanic” the following year.
Stone’s generosity and support for DiCaprio have not gone unnoticed. The actor has expressed his gratitude to her on numerous occasions, and he credits her with helping to launch his career.
“She said, ‘These are the two actors I want to work with,'” DiCaprio recalled in a recent interview. “It’s incredible. She’s been a huge champion of cinema and giving other actors opportunities, so I’m very thankful.”