It’s the last week of summer with the Fall Equinox officially beginning on Saturday, September 23. As we literally enjoy the dog days of summer, we look back on that one person who set the summer trends of the year and made his destination THE destination.
From how to dress, to where to be seen, and who to be seen with, Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio set a precedent for the summer of 2023, and it all took place for 3 luxurious months in the Mediterranean on a yacht – one of DiCaprio’s favorite modes of transportation and accommodation for any summer.
Leonardo DiCaprio is an American actor, film producer, and environmental activist. He was born on November 11, 1974, in Los Angeles, California, and established himself as one of the most talented and influential actors in Hollywood.
In fact, his influence this summer came in a perhaps not so surprising way by defining summer tourism in the Mediterranean. For well over a decade, Leo has spent his summers onboard yachts, making all of us normal mortals drool over this annual form of relaxation and rejuvenation.
DiCaprio in the Beginning
In 1991 DiCaprio made his film debut in Critters 3 as Josh, the stepson of a building’s unethical landlord, and it is this movie debut that Leo hates the most. He is quoted as saying that it is “possibly one of the worst films of all time. I guess it was a good example to look back and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Not long after that in 1993, a slightly older Leo gets a bigger role in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” in which young man in a small Midwestern town struggles to care for his mentally challenged younger brother and morbidly obese mother while attempting to pursue his own happiness. DiCaprio was 19-years old when he starred as the younger brother alongside Johnny Depp who played Gilbert in this movie classic.
Speaking of DiCaprio Summer
In “The Beach,” Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Richard, a backpacker in Thailand who heads in search of a secret beach. The movie was shot at Maya Bay on the island of Phi Phi Leh which quickly became a bucket-list favorite for travelers after the bay was featured in this 2000 blockbuster.
Because of overtourism wreaking havoc on the natural ecosystem, the bay was closed to the public in 2018.
While thought to be a temporary measure at first, Maya Bay remained closed for 32 months so it could rejuvenate and recover.
After reopening, strict limits were set on visitor numbers, which were capped to 375 at once. Swimming remains off-limits to tourists to this day, although visitors can get their toes wet, and boats can only dock at designated locations that are on the other side of the island, away from protected coral reefs.
And the DiCaprio Hits Just Keep on Coming
In more recent times, there is the going down in history long after the actor and us are gone – “Titanic” from 1997 when DiCaprio gained worldwide fame for his role as Jack Dawson in this epic romance directed by James Cameron.
“Inception” (2010): He starred as Dom Cobb, a thief who enters people’s dreams, in this mind-bending science fiction film directed by Christopher Nolan.
“Django Unchained” (2012): DiCaprio portrayed the villainous Calvin Candie in Quentin Tarantino’s Western film.
“The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013): He played the role of Jordan Belfort, a corrupt stockbroker, in this dark comedy directed by Martin Scorsese.
“The Revenant” (2015): DiCaprio won his first Academy Award (Oscar) for his role as frontiersman Hugh Glass in this survival drama directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Throughout his career, Leonardo DiCaprio has received numerous awards and nominations for his acting, including several Academy Award nominations and a reputation for his dedication to his craft. In addition to his acting career, he is known for his environmental activism and philanthropic work, particularly focused on addressing climate change and conservation efforts. Oh, and of course, his influence on Mediterranean summers.
