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Watch 19-Year-Old Leonardo DiCaprio React to Being Labeled a Teenage Heartthrob: ''I Didn't Dig That''

"They portray them as sort of like a piece of meat. Like, here's the new cute thing, take a look at him," the actor told E! News back in 1993

By Bruna Nessif Jan 07, 2016 11:00 AMTags
Watch: E! Looks Back at Leonardo DiCaprio in 1993

You probably had a poster of Leonardo DiCaprio up on your wall, or, at the very least, one of his magazine covers when he first came on the scene, but this dreamy actor wasn't exactly excited to be a young teen heartthrob.

In honor of Throwback Thursday, we've pulled yet another gem out of our vault of interviews, and this week we're putting all the attention on a 19-year-old Leo. While promoting his famous feature film What's Eating Gilbert Grape back in 1993, the fresh-face cutie and his long tresses couldn't help but laugh off the thought of being the object of affection for many young fans while sitting down with E! News.

"I didn't really think about that," DiCaprio responded when asked if he felt his image in the industry would hinder his ability to take on such a serious role.

"I don't know about that teen thing. I think it's good, it's good for publicity, but, it's almost like they're not actors, you know what I mean? They portray them as sort of like a piece of meat. Like, here's the new cute thing, take a look at him, and go ohhh, ahhh. I didn't dig that."

DiCaprio continued, "I wanted to do characters that I could really get into and really act and make into a reality and not something contrived. I had some teen following, but I don't really have that anymore. it's sort of gone. It diminished, thank God."

Did it, though? Watch the clip above to see more of our blast from the past sit-down with the Hollywood hunk!