The Untold Truth Of Leonardo DiCaprio

When former Russian Prime Minister Vladmir Putin hosted a summit in St. Petersburg to discuss saving the world's endangered tigers, he summoned leaders from 13 countries, representatives of wildlife organizations ... and Leonardo DiCaprio. While Leo struggled to get there (the commercial flight had engine trouble), Putin called him a "real man" and praised him for his perseverance. "I would like to thank you for coming despite all the obstacles," he said (via the BBC). "A person with less stable nerves could have decided against coming, could have read it as a sign that it was not worth going." DiCaprio reportedly revealed to Putin that he is part Russian and always wanted to take his grandmother to St. Petersburg. Putin reportedly assured the actor that St. Petersburg would make him proud of his Russian roots.

After the friendly exchange, DiCaprio reportedly told a German newspaper that he'd "love to play" Putin on-screen, saying he found the man "very, very, very interesting." However, Leo also made sure to define his relationship with the controversial leader. "My foundation has provided financial support for several projects for the protection of these big cats. Putin and I talked only about the protection of these magnificent animals, not politics," DiCaprio said (via The Guardian).

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