Felicity Jones Reveals Her Acting Inspiration: Leonardo DiCaprio

Felicity Jones has long been recognised for her nuanced performances, yet she often seems to fly under the radar despite her impressive body of work. From her moving portrayal in The Theory of Everything to her role in The Brutalist, and even as the lead in what many consider the standout entry in the Star Wars franchise, Jones has consistently delivered. Her early appearance in a memorable Doctor Who episode about an enormous wasp only adds to her varied career.

Beginning her journey in the industry as a teenager, Jones first appeared on television at just 13. She soon secured a significant part in the children’s series The Worst Witch, playing a character whose magical skills left much to be desired, rather than one with a penchant for mischief.

Looking Across the Atlantic

As she was establishing herself, Jones found inspiration in a young talent making waves in America. In a conversation with Backstage, she was asked which performances she believed all aspiring actors should study. Her answer, shaped by her formative years in the 1990s, was perhaps to be expected.

“It may sound like an obvious answer, but the person I always come back to for such a collision of emotion and technique is Leonardo DiCaprio,”

she explained.

“I grew up on a very strong diet of Leonardo DiCaprio, from Romeo + Juliet to Titanic. The emotion he brings, but also the skill, is pretty much one of a kind. I use him as a bit of a benchmark. He brings such physicality.”

DiCaprio’s Early Influence

DiCaprio, like Jones, entered the world of acting at a young age, making his first television appearance as a teenager. His breakthrough came in the late 1990s, with Baz Luhrmann’s take on Shakespeare’s classic love story establishing him as a leading man. The phenomenal success of Titanic soon after propelled him to global fame. During this period, his roles often highlighted his youthful innocence and romanticism, qualities that resonated with audiences worldwide.

Jones’s admiration for DiCaprio’s early work is rooted in this era, when his characters were marked by a certain vulnerability and charm. His portrayal of Jack Dawson in Titanic remains a touchstone for many, even if the actor himself has reportedly never watched the film.

Evolution of a Benchmark

By the time Jones made her remarks in 2021, DiCaprio had already expanded his repertoire with more demanding roles in films such as The Wolf of Wall Street, The Aviator, and The Revenant, earning multiple Oscar nominations along the way. These later performances required a different kind of complexity, moving beyond the innocence of his earlier characters.

Since then, DiCaprio has continued to diversify his roles, taking on projects like Don’t Look Up and One Battle After Another. For Jones, however, it is the combination of emotional intensity and technical skill in his formative years that continues to serve as a reference point in her own craft.