Did You Know Leonardo DiCaprio’s First On-Screen Kiss Was with a Man?

Before Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio’s first on-screen kiss was actually with a man. According to Nicki Swift, this happened early in his career with David Thewlis, who later became known for his role in the Harry Potter series.

In 1995, DiCaprio appeared in the film Total Eclipse as French poet Arthur Rimbaud. The movie tells the story of Rimbaud’s intense and complicated romance with Paul Verlaine, played by Thewlis.

The two poets share a passionate, sometimes destructive relationship, and it was during this film that DiCaprio shared his first cinematic kiss with another actor.

The story focuses on both the personal and professional tensions in their lives. Rimbaud’s rebellious genius and Verlaine’s established status as a married poet create a relationship full of jealousy, arguments, and emotional pain.

At the same time, their connection inspires some of the most powerful poetry of the time. The film also reflects 19th-century societal attitudes toward homosexuality, showing how both men faced judgment and criticism for their relationship.

Speaking about the experience, DiCaprio admitted in the past in the Movieline interview, he said, “I don’t have a problem with doing a film about a relationship of love with another man. That’s just acting, you know what I mean? But as far as the kissing stuff, that’s really hard for me, I’m not kidding. But I’ve faced the fact that I’m gonna have to do it, and I’m gonna do it because I supposedly loved the guy.”

Years later, he seemed more comfortable with the challenge. Discussing another intense scene in a 2012 interview with The Mirror, he explained, “These are the things we do as actors — I was in character. Clint was very clear, saying, ‘I want you guys to beat each other up first, I want as much blood as possible, and I want you to grab each other as if you want to kill each other — and then it will happen.’”

Total Eclipse marked an early, bold choice for DiCaprio and showed his dedication to fully inhabiting his characters, regardless of the challenges involved.

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