Leo discovers it's good to talk in Body Of LiesBody Of Lies’ troubled spy Leonardo DiCaprio is an actor first, a star second, but that doesn’t mean he’s shy of being entertaining...

He may have starred in the most successful film of all time, but since Titanic – 12 years ago – Leonardo DiCaprio has forged a serious-minded career working with the likes of Martin Scorsese (four times!), Steve Spielberg and, now, Ridley Scott in Middle East espionage pulse-pounder Body Of Lies.

While the media gossiped about his girlfriends – if one will date beauties like Gisele Bundchen, what can you expect? – DiCaprio has nabbed a bucket load of Oscar® nominations and established himself as an eco crusader with 2007’s documentary The Eleventh Hour.

His film work has also taken on a strong social conscience – from civil war in Sierra Leone for Blood Diamond to Body Of Lies’ adrenalised global politics, he knows that the best way to get people to think is to entertain them first.

“Besides being a great political piece that’s pertinent to this time,” he explains, “Body Of Lies is a fantastic cat and- mouse espionage thriller.” Who are we to argue?

Sky Movies Magazine: How would you describe your character in Body of Lies?

Leonardo Di Caprio: I saw Roger Ferris as a Middle East operator trying to do his job on a higher moral plane than his boss wanted him to.

There’s this great conflict, this dilemma where he’s asked consistently to do things he doesn’t believe in for the betterment of his country and the war on terror. Simultaneously, he’s accustomed to the Middle East, its culture and customs.

He meets up with a Jordanian intelligence officer (Russell Crowe) whom he comes to respect and wants to do the best job he possibly can. He’s being manipulated by both sides.”

SMM: Was it a tough shoot in Morocco?
LD: The nature of the environment took a toll. We were there for an extra three-and-a half months. Even thinking back, it was tough, but Ridley enjoys that kind of stuff. People always ask me, ‘Was it fun working on that movie?’

I don’t know if fun is the operative word, but it was challenging and interesting.

SMM: in doing research did you get to meet any ex or current CiA operatives?

LD: I got to talk to some people who worked in that field. It’s very interesting subject matter to take on, because, unless you’re talking about the CIA in the context of history, which we’re only now starting to learn about, it’s shrouded in secrecy. There’s a certain leap of faith that you have to take.

SMM: You spoke quite a bit of Arabic in the movie – can you remember any of the language now?

LD: Oh, absolutely none. Not a single word. We had an Arabic coach who was really helpful because, more so than any accent, you had to be so exact and there are different dialects of Arabic from region to region. It was really difficult, one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do because it comes from the throat.

SMM: How did you handle the torture scene – it’s pretty intense?
LD: We talked about it really early on in the project. We knew it was pivotal, that if it wasn’t believable we could ruin the whole thing. We analysed it from every possible direction.

What would a CIA agent finally say in that situation? What tactics would he use to get out? What is he thinking about, his own survival or the betterment of his country?

I actually got sick after the scene, because there was so much intensity put into it.

SMM: This isn’t your first time acting with Russell Crowe – has much changed since 1995’s The Quick And The Dead?

LD: Russell had done Romper Stomper, and I’d done What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, both bright-eyed and bushy-tailed – I was 18.

Russell couldn’t be more professional, more of a normal guy to hang out with. He’s a good pal and he hasn’t changed. He’s the same.

SMM: is it true that your agent tried to get you to change your name to the more us-friendly ‘Lenny Williams’?

LD: That is absolutely true. When I first started out they thought my name was too ethnic. My dad was like, ‘You are keeping your Italian name!’ Lenny Williams was their bright idea. That name is not attractive.

Body of Lies begins on Sky Movies Premiere/HD on Saturday 28th November at 10pm.

Words: Richard Matthews


This feature originally appeared in the Sky Movies Magazine, November '09.