Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t win any major awards for One Battle After Another, although he was nominated for everything. After he won his one and only Oscar a decade ago, he calmed down a lot around the award seasons, doing some light campaigning but mostly just using his fame and power to put his films and coworkers front and center. He did that with Killers of the Flower Moon – he campaigned harder for Lily Gladstone than himself. Same with One Battle After Another – he was super-proud of the film, but he seemed very happy to see Paul Thomas Anderson, Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor get all of the attention. Leo has now starred in three films which ultimately led to his directors winning the Best Director Oscar for the first time – PTA, Martin Scorsese and James Cameron.
There were tons of good behind-the-scenes moments at the Oscars, and many of them involved Leo. He was seated in between his new bestie Teyana Taylor and his girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti. She’s 27 and he’s still dating her! Shocking. Not only that, but he brought her as his Oscar date! They didn’t walk the carpet together, but obviously, they were seated together in the first row. Vittoria was even shown in Conan O’Brien’s opener, when Conan talked about Leo as the king of memes. Leo really did create a brand new meme as well!
Additionally, there was a really beautiful moment after Michael B. Jordan won his Oscar. He came back into the auditorium and he and Leo had one of the sweetest bro-hugs I’ve ever seen. Leo was also one of the first to jump up when MBJ won – Leo was so happy for Jordan. Benicio del Toro was thrilled for Jordan as well, Benicio even kissed Jordan’s hand.
Conan O’Brien makes a new Leonardo DiCaprio meme #Oscars pic.twitter.com/OX62X798Mx
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) March 15, 2026
Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan embrace after the #Oscars
Credit to @InStyle for the 🎥 pic.twitter.com/0AUIqPCcFf
— Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) March 16, 2026
Michael B. Jordan shares an emotional moment with Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio del Toro after his Best Actor Oscar win at the 98th Academy Awards.pic.twitter.com/w9n7vxMWVs
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) March 16, 2026
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, screencap courtesy of AMPAS/ABC.
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- Leonardo DiCaprio arrives on the red carpet of the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026.,Image: 1083328046, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: SI/Avalon
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- Leonardo DiCaprio arrives on the red carpet of the 98th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 15, 2026.,Image: 1083340404, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Mark Von Holden / The Academy/Avalon
It looks like Michael may have just been overwhelmed in the moment, and Leo recognized that. He was definitely saying something in Michael’s ear, that made Michael hug him harder. Winning Oscar at any age has to be a lot for an actor, winning one for best actor before you’re 40 has to be a mind screw.
I can see how it could be overwhelming and scary while also exhilarating, and maybe Leo was just telling him that this isn’t the end. That they’ll never have a moment like this again probably frightens a lot of actors after the win. It’s really nice though to see how happy everyone is for him, and how much they are celebrating him but probably giving him advice behind the scenes.
That moment between MBJ and Leo was so sweet. It was clear how overwhelmed Jordan was and how happy Leo was for him.
I really feel like Leo’s thinking is – he got his Oscar, and now he’s happy to support others. He doesn’t do franchises or superhero movies, and I think he’s invested in making sure movies like OBAA keep getting made – whether you liked it or not, it was a more unique and original movie (I know it was adapted but I’m using the term to mean not a reboot, sequel, franchise, etc.) and I think Leo wants those movies to be made. I think that’s part of why he was clearly so supportive of Sinners – he was obviously thrilled that OBAA won and that PTA won, but whenever the camera panned to him for a Sinners win he looked just as thrilled. I think he and Teyana were the first ones on their feet when Jordan won. and it doesn’t feel performative either.
IDK, I’ve just been really pleasantly surprised by how he’s behaved the last few awards cycles and how supportive he is of other actors.
Really feels like he listened to what Harrison Ford was saying about being there to bring the other younger guys along. Leo was the sweetest. I think honestly everyone was so happy that MBJ won and no one wanted TC to win. Marty Supreme was a bad movie.
My dream is for Leo to one day work with a female director. And to do a romantic comedy, lol.
He already did. Total Eclipse was directed by Agnieszka Holland
It was a lovely moment and I can only imagine how that win must feel. They’re bound not just in that business but Academy Award winners.
I’m reminded of a sweet moment between MBJ and Chadwick Boseman, too. I love how he’s not embarrassed to show emotion and affection for his friends, family and colleagues. It feels like a balm in this toxic age.
I thought Leo was kinda played out for me for good. The models, yachts, private jets seemingly at odds with his environmentalist views but “Elder Statesman Leo” is really growing on me. Looks good too.
On a side note, I’ve been so excited for MBJ that I forgot that I can brag about working with him for a few days on the set of creed 3. He was directing in that one so I got to watch him direct and act and he learned how to sign for that film. Did he smile at me bc I had to hide behind a column to stay out of the shot and he turned the corner and ran into me and we both started laughing. Yes yes he did. Was it as amazing as I’m making it sound yes, yes, it was. Ryan Coogler’s kids were producing and they came and introduced themselves to every new person on set at the start of the day, very professional and warm. So yes that’s my brag of the day. Leo hugged him longer sure but I did get that awkward run in, laugh and big smile.
Thank you so much for sharing that sweet story.
HOW are you just sharing this story now??? That’s a good one!!
I honestly strait-up didn’t even think about it. Then this morning I was like oh yeah. Huh, I guess I ran into an Oscar winner, lol. His smile is insane. He’s tall. He’s fit. Even better irl. It is a good story. He was directing at a deaf school in Atlanta and watching him direct all the children in such a warm way was heart-melting. He was so good with them. Yeaaaah, it was swoony.
That’s a great story (and you’re so lucky! Ok, dumb question, but did he smell good? For some reason, he always looks like he smells divine). It’s wonderful to hear that MBJ isn’t a massive dick around others when no one is watching.
My brother was a writer for some of the most popular tv shows of the 90s and 2000s – he worked in the tv industry for 30 years. He was often disappointed when he met some of his favorite actors and they turned out to be self-important a**holes (the biggest exception, however, was Melissa McCarthy; he said she was one of the kindest, funniest people he ever knew, in or out of ‘the biz’). My brother is the one who turned me on to FNL, which is where I first saw MBJ in action. I’ve been a huge fan ever since.
In my opinion, MBJ seems like Leo’s natural successor; he started out very young, has fostered good will throughout the industry, is a reliably terrific actor, and has a special director/actor relationship with Coogler, like Leo with Scorsese (and DeNiro/Scorsese before him). He’s a bonafide movie star – the camera loves him. He carries himself with gravitas and elegance in an industry that doesn’t make it easy for POC, and seems like a genuinely decent guy (if he weren’t, he wouldn’t be nearly as beloved by other actors).
On another note – it’s disheartening to see so many “think pieces” about why CHALoMAY lost. Yes, he was a big d-bag during the awards campaign. But why do they need to dissect this at all? Why can’t they simply write that MBJ was the better actor in Sinners than TC was in Marty Supreme? If it’s because they feel the need to placate fragile white men whom, (thanks to the orange pustule) think a dudebro is entitled to win, they can f*ck all the way off.
I have a bad sense of smell so I can’t even recall. But just know that I’d been a fan since Wallace from the Wire so it was built up in my head before I even got to set and he did not disappoint. I spent a few years on sets and that was one of my favorite moments. As for Timmy, he was rude and people love to talk about a downfall. It should be a separate convo apart from MBJ.
Honestly, we need more of this. We need more images of men supporting each other and being unapologetically physical as an expression of mutual respect. Our society is so effin homophobic that so many men feel like they can’t embrace each other even in a very emotional moment. I’m done with the fist bumps and the shoulder claps–let’s normalize the prolonged hug between men!
Agreed Kitten! I’m in the UK and everyone is abuzz over the cretins in Louis Theroux’s new manosphere documentary, and in direct contrast it’s been lovely to see MBJ and Ryan Coogler openly hugging and expressing their love for each other, and now this moment with Leo too. More of these men please.
As an aside I was wondering what the hand sign Coogler kept making meant; apparently it was him signing ‘I love you’ to MBJ, Lugwig, Autumn etc after their wins.
Elder statesman mayor of Hollywood is Leo’s best look. Whatever we can obviously say about his love life fortunately doesn’t apply to his female costars where he seems to truly step up as a mentor and friend.
That hug was A LOT. MBJ really seemed emotionally overwhelmed and Leo was obviously giving him so much love and support
It was very nice, but I have the most shallow observation ever: Leo’s eyes are tiny in his broad face. That’s my not-very-helpful contribution to this discussion lol. I just had to say it.
This made me emotional 😢 ✨️🎬✨️…hope these two greats get to work together ❤️
They would be epic together. And maybe with Leo’s track record of winning his directors an Oscar they can do a Ryan project together
Even tho it’s pretty easy to side-eye his dating choices, DiCaprio seems to be a genuinely decent human — his costars all like him, he shows up and is a hard worker, he supports his colleagues, and does consistent charity work. Plus he’s great in the films he’s in.
Also his non verbal shout out to his FNL brother Jesse gave me so much life. 1. That they are such close friends he’d do that 2. That Jesse and Kirsten are so royal without being nominated they have front row seats