Johnny Depp on working with Leonardo DiCaprio: 'I tortured him'

They starred together in 1993 film What's Eating Gilbert Grape? when DiCaprio was only 19

Johnny Depp has reflected upon his time working with Leonardo DiCaprio on 1993 film What's Eating Gilbert Grape?.

The Black Mass actor starred as the titular character, a man who must care for his autistic brother Arnie (DiCaprio).

“I respect Leo a lot," Depp said. "He worked really hard on that film, researching and showing up ready to work — and I tortured him. I really did.

"He was always talking about these video games. ‘No I will not give you a drag from my cigarette while you hide from your mother again, Leo,’ [I would say].”

Speaking to Variety after winning Santa Barbara Film Festival's Maltin Modern Master Award, he went on to discuss his role of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

He revealed that Sparrow was originally written as a swashbuckler who “comes in and saves the day" until Depp attempted to evolve that notion.

“‘Come on, folks,'” he claims he told Disney honchos. “‘You don’t have to underestimate your audience anymore. Let’s try some stuff.'”

The role of Sparrow saw him nominated for an Oscar in 2004 - but the actor this year missed out on recognition for playing mobster Whitey Bulger in crime drama Black Mass. DiCaprio, on the other hand, was nominated for his performance in The Revenant.