Leonardo DiCaprio Hated Making This 33%-Rated Movie: "I Would Have Had a Nervous Breakdown"

In Hollywood, being Leonardo DiCaprio means enjoying a rare privilege – he's one of the select few who steers their own career, driven by art rather than commerce.

Unless he decides to suffer for a role again, as he did in The Revenant, his days of doing so are over. However, it hasn't always been that way.

Leonardo DiCaprio Revealed He Hated Making 'The Man in the Iron Mask'

Following the resounding success of Titanic, DiCaprio had yet to establish himself as one of the best actors of his generation. As often happens with rising stars, he was immediately cast in a major blockbuster with a star-studded ensemble.

His first movie after James Cameron's hit was The Man in the Iron Mask, directed by Randall Wallace.

However, filming became a real test for DiCaprio – he had to wear the iron mask, which almost drove him crazy. In an interview with The Standard, DiCaprio said:

“Within ten minutes of wearing the mask, I wanted to bash my head against the wall in frustration. I wore it for a while until it became part of me.

I had to fight urges to scratch my face off. I would have had a nervous breakdown if I'd had to go through a movie for three months and be that character, or in this case, characters, on and off set.”

What Is 'The Man in the Iron Mask' About?

King Louis XIV enjoys life while his country starves. He was confident in the absolute nature of his power and feared only one man: a mysterious prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment and hidden behind an iron mask.

When the king's selfishness becomes unbearable, the former Musketeers – Athos, Porthos, and Aramis – decide to rescue the prisoner and overthrow the tyrant, giving France new hope.

Leonardo DiCaprio Won a Razzie for His Role in 'The Man in the Iron Mask'

The Man in the Iron Mask was a box office hit, grossing over $180 million against a budget of $35 million. However, the award DiCaprio received was anything but enviable.

He won a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple for his dual role as the king and his twin.

Thus, all the torment he endured because of the ill-fated mask failed to earn him any acting accolades and resulted in a Razzie.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'The Man in the Iron Mask'?

• The Man in the Iron Mask has 33% from critics and 55% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 6.5/10.

• On Letterboxd, The Man in the Iron Mask is scored 3.1/5.0.

Where to Watch 'The Man in the Iron Mask'?

You can buy or rent The Man in the Iron Mask on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.