Leonardo DiCaprio Recalls Django Unchained Scene Where He Cuts Himself Open And Carries On Acting
Leonardo DiCaprio has shared his experience of the time he cut his hand open on the set of Django Unchained and carried on acting.
In an interview with Cynthia McFadden, DiCaprio explained what happened during the infamous scene that left his hand dripping with blood.
Also speaking with McFadden were the film's star Jamie Foxx and director Quentin Tarantino.
Django Unchained was released in 2012 and tells the story of a freed slave (Django) who joins forces with a bounty hunter to free his wife.
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The film sees DiCaprio play slave owner Calvin Candie and is one of the first times we see the actor as a villain, rather than a leading man.
Speaking of the character, DiCaprio said: 'This was one of the most narcissistic, self-indulgent, racist, most despicable characters I've ever read in my entire life.'
DiCaprio then recounted how his first day on set was 'incredibly difficult', but that with some reassurance from Foxx and fellow co-star Samuel L. Jackson saying 'hey mf get over that it's just another Tuesday for us', he was ready to commit to the role.
And commit he did, as DiCaprio goes on to explain how he cut a glass against his hand in a dinner table scene, but didn't break character as he bled profusely.
The Titanic actor explained: 'That was the fun part, was watching their reactions.
'Boom it happened and then I opened my hand and then blood starts pouring everywhere and I saw Jamie go like this [makes shocked face].'
DiCaprio said Tarantino's reaction was similar.
Obviously, the bloody scene made it into the final film, because what would a Tarantino movie be without a little carnage.
That carnage is something that Tarantino has been criticised for throughout his career, and Django Unchained is no exception.
However, the director rebuked the criticism that the violence in his movies has cultural implications.
Tarantino said: 'In Shakespeare's time he was blamed all the time for the anarchy in the streets.
'I don't have any responsibility of what a whacked out crazy person might do.'
Foxx then weighed in and urged people that they shouldn't judge the film before they watch it, because at its core the film follows a man 'who wants to be in love with his woman'.
If you've not yet watched Django Unchained, it's currently available on Netflix in the UK.
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Shola Lee