When Leonardo DiCaprio refused to read for TITANIC, James Cameron told him, “You’ll read or you won’t get the part.”

Director James Cameron is responsible for two of the greatest record-breaking films of all time, the first being the epic historical romantic drama Titanic, which broke the box office and has remained a massive hit all these years later. The film did so well in how beautifully shot it was and how personal the story was, inviting the viewer into the lives of characters who might have been aboard the fateful ship.

The film starred Kate Winsletwho was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the part, Opposite Leonardo Dicapriowho had been nominated for Best Supporting Actor before being cast. What is eating the Gilbert grape.

DiCaprio was very interested in the part, but as Cameron recalled in a recent interview with GQ (via Variety) the actor was initially unwilling to read for the role in an audition. Cameron told DiCaprio, “You’re either going to read or you’re not going to get the part.”

“There was a meeting with Leo and then there was an audition with Leo. The meeting was fun because I’m sitting in my conference room, waiting to meet an actor. And I look around, and all the women in the whole office are in the meeting. Everyone wanted to meet Leo. He was hysterical.

DiCaprio wowed everyone in his first fight, but the audition was a little more controversial. When Cameron arranged to audition for DiCaprio, Winslet was already busy playing the part of Rose.

“He came back a couple days later and I set up the camera to record the video. He didn’t know she was going to get tested. He thought it was another meeting to meet Kate. So I said, ‘Okay, we’ll go in the next room, make some jokes and I’ll film it.’ And he said, ‘You mean I’m reading?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, “Oh, I don’t read.” I shook his hand and said, ‘Thanks for stopping by.’”

Cameron was ready to dismiss DiCaprio at the time, but the actor came back to him and said, “Wait, wait, wait. If I don’t read, don’t I get the part? That’s right?” Cameron replied, “Oh yeah. I’m going to screw it up by making the wrong casting decision. So, you’re either going to read or you’re not going to get the part.’”

“So he comes along, and it’s like every ounce of his entire being is so negative – until I said, ‘Action.’ Then he turned into Jack. Kate just lit up and they acted out the scene. Dark clouds had parted and a ray of sunlight had come down and illuminated Jack. I’m like, ‘Okay. He’s the boy.’”

I get that DiCaprio is a talented actor, but obviously a director wants to make sure his main characters have on-screen chemistry before making a movie this big. I’m glad that he was able to humble himself and do what was necessary to get the part, because it’s one of the roles that will become him better than him, and it contributed to the magic of the movie that we all loved.