During a recent Variety Actors on Actors conversation with Richard Gadd, Danes revisited a memorable moment from the production of 1996’s “Romeo + Juliet,” recalling how DiCaprio abruptly shifted from co-star to voice of caution while the pair prepared to film one of the movie’s most emotional scenes.
Claire Danes Remembers Leonardo DiCaprio’s On-Set Warning During ‘Romeo + Juliet’
The memory dates back to the filming of Juliet’s tragic final sequence. Danes, who was 17 at the time, admitted she was not fully appreciating the seriousness of the moment as cameras were being readied. While handling a prop firearm used in the scene, she casually pointed it at herself, prompting an immediate reaction from DiCaprio.
“I remember just blithely playing with the prop gun and putting it to my head, and Leo getting very serious and saying, ‘Claire, we don’t do that. Don’t eff around,’” Danes recalled. Looking back, she acknowledged that her co-star’s response was justified, adding, “He was right, but I was just being a doofus and a girl.”
Released in 1996, “Romeo + Juliet” paired Danes and DiCaprio in a contemporary reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy while preserving much of the original language. The picture became both a box office success and a defining cultural touchstone for a generation of moviegoers, helping cement its stars as two of Hollywood’s most recognizable young talents.
The performer remains busy both in front of and behind the camera. Most recently, she starred in and executive produced Netflix’s psychological thriller “The Beast in Me,” playing novelist Aggie Wiggs opposite Matthew Rhys. The actress has also continued to expand her producing career and is attached to upcoming television projects including “The Applebaum Curse” and “Lovesick.” Her recent screen credits include FX’s acclaimed drama “Fleishman Is in Trouble” and the limited series “Full Circle.”