Leonardo DiCaprio, 50, Claps Back at Years of Backlash Over Dating Younger Women

“Once upon a time in Hollywood”, Leonardo DiCaprio dropped what could be his most revealing explanation yet for his viral dating reputation. Speaking with filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson for Esquire, the 50-year-old Oscar winner admitted he feels nearly two decades younger than his real age.

(Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

Anderson asked him to answer quickly, “If you didn’t know how old you are, how old are you right now?” Without missing a beat, DiCaprio replied, “Thirty-two.” When pressed on whether turning 50 was a time for reflection, he quipped, “I turned emotionally 35 last year.”

How Turning 50 Changed His Outlook

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DiCaprio explained that hitting the milestone birthday in November 2024 has made him more direct. “You have a desire to just be more honest and not waste your time. You have to just be much more upfront,” he said.

He acknowledged that this honesty can come with consequences, including “risking having things fall apart” or “going your separate ways” in relationships, both personal and professional. He added, “It’s almost a responsibility because much more of your life is behind you than it is ahead of you.

Dating History & Public Perception

The “Revenant” star has been dating Italian model Vittoria Ceretti, 27, since 2023. The two reportedly met at the Cannes Film Festival, where “Killers of the Flower Moon” premiered. Before Ceretti, DiCaprio was linked to Gigi Hadid, Camila Morrone, Nina Agdal, Toni Garrn & more.

Romance rumors began swirling that August, following speculation about DiCaprio’s brief connection to Gigi Hadid.

His romantic history has fueled a long-running joke that he dates women “before [their] pre-frontal cortex has fully developed.” Yet not all exes see it as a problem.

(Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)

Kristen Zang, who dated him in the 1990s, defended him in 2022, saying she was the one who ended things because she had “outgrown” the relationship.

Since then, the couple has enjoyed several glamorous getaways, including time aboard Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s honeymoon yacht, where they mingled with stars such as Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Sean Penn & Brooks Nader.

Though Ceretti has been spotted wearing a ring on her left hand, insiders have shut down engagement talk, noting the couple has no wedding plans for now. Before her relationship with DiCaprio, Ceretti was married to Italian DJ Matteo Milleri of “Tale of Us” from 2020 to 2023, and she was also briefly linked to model-turned-actor Nathan Westling.

Inspiration From His Mother

(Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)

Reflecting on his evolving perspective, DiCaprio cited his mother as a role model for living authentically. “I look at my mother, for example, and she just says exactly what she thinks and wastes no time. She spends no time trying to fake it,” he shared.

This mindset, he believes, will only deepen “as the next few decades progress,” as he prioritizes honesty, meaningful relationships & living on his own terms.

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