Once Upon a Time in Hollywood…
Leonardo DiCaprio was absent from the award ceremony. The star will not be attending the 2026 Actor Awards on Sunday as he is filming a movie in Europe.
DiCaprio is currently on the set of Martin Scorsese’s new film, What Happens at Night, alongside Jennifer Lawrence.
Viewers will see the pair play an American couple who travel to a small town in Europe to adopt a baby in this psychological horror film. The film is based on Peter Cameron’s novel of the same name.
DiCaprio will be absent from the awards ceremony on March 1st, where he will be nominated for Best Actor.
The “Romeo + Juliet” actor, who played activist Bob Ferguson in Paul Thomas Anderson’s action thriller, will star opposite Michael B. Jordan in “Sinners,” Timothée Chalamet in “Marty Supreme,” Ethan Hawke in “Blue Moon,” and Jesse Plemons in “Bugonia.”
However, DiCaprio has already lost out on winners during this year’s awards season.
In January, the Oscar winner held the Best Actor trophy at the 2026 National Board of Review Awards ceremony.
While accepting the statue, DiCaprio paid tribute to his father, George DiCaprio, who fostered his love of movies.
“When I was four years old, my father took me to the theater to see a movie for the first time,” he began. “I remember staring at that giant screen in complete awe and crying hysterically at the end of ‘King Kong.’ Something changed inside me. Movies became an escape from the limitations of my environment…a place where I felt like things bigger than my own life were possible.”
Meanwhile, One Battle After Another continues to dominate, winning Best Picture at the British Academy Film Awards earlier this month.
After his win, DiCaprio took to the stage with co-stars Teyana Taylor, Benicio Del Toro and Chase Infinity to cheer on Anderson.
The project won Best Motion Picture (Comedy or Musical) at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards and was named Best Motion Picture at the 2026 Critics’ Choice Awards.
As the Oscars ceremony approaches on March 15th, “One Battle After Another” is at the top of the list with 13 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for DiCaprio.
Even though DiCaprio has won numerous awards, teaming up with Anderson on this project was nothing short of a dream come true.
“When an opportunity like this comes along, I just can’t say no,” the 51-year-old confessed to People magazine about working with the 55-year-old director.
“Honestly, I think it was always the right time,” DiCaprio explained of making the film with Anderson. “Ever since I met Paul in the early days and saw him in Boogie Nights, I have been a huge fan of his work and have seen all of his films.”
In fact, Starr was offered the role of Eddie Adams/Dirk Diggler in the 1997 film, but turned it down in favor of playing Jack in James Cameron’s Titanic.
Mark Wahlberg played the lead role in the film about a young busboy who becomes a porn star.
Saying no to the role still bothers DiCaprio.
“Now that you’re here, I’m telling you, my biggest regret is not doing Boogie Nights,” he told Anderson in an August interview with Esquire magazine.
“This was a profound movie for my generation,” DiCaprio reflected. “I can’t imagine anyone other than Mark being involved.”
