Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes
In Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film Romeo + Juliet, the chemistry between Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes is central to the story. On screen they appear hopelessly in love, but off screen their personalities clashed. Danes, who was only seventeen at the time, took her work very seriously. She found DiCaprio’s constant joking and pranks distracting.
DiCaprio, just twenty-one, thought Danes was too reserved and critical of his playful attitude. Reports from the set say that they rarely spoke when the cameras were not rolling. Danes allegedly avoided him between takes, preferring to prepare quietly.
Despite this distance, their professionalism ensured the romance looked convincing on screen. The film became a cult classic and introduced Shakespeare to a new generation. It also showed that actors do not need to get along personally to create memorable performances. Their cold relationship behind the camera has fascinated fans for decades because of the contrast with their intense love story in the movie.