Biography of Leonardo DiCaprio's grandmother. The worse I am, the better the movie
Today they are all world-famous actors, directors and producers, but these stars would never have lit up if not for their ancestors, immigrants from Odessa.
Most Hollywood actors are proud of their roots, but some prefer not to mention their relatives...
Leonardo DiCaprio with his grandmother
Leonardo DiCaprio with his grandparents
Leonardo DiCaprio with his mother and grandmother
Leonardo DiCaprio has never hidden the fact that his grandmother, Helen Indenbirken, was known as Elena Stepanovna Smirnova in her maidenhood. Most sources call her homeland Odessa, but some indicate the Kherson region of Ukraine. After the revolution, his grandmother and her family emigrated to Germany, where they remained during World War II. Mother future star Hollywood was born in a bomb shelter during an air raid. Leo inherited his surname from his father with Italian-German roots.
Hollywood star with grandmother
An actor with his Odessa grandmother
After the end of the war, Elena Stepanovna and her husband moved to the USA. When she had a grandson in 1974, she became the closest person to him and was constantly with him. Leonardo DiCaprio always talked about his grandmother with great love and respect and often appeared in front of cameras with her. The actor admired her willpower and was confident that her character was strengthened by the trials she experienced in her youth: “For me, my grandmother is the embodiment inner strength and integrity. She went through poverty, war and emigration. Grandparents and other relatives on their side are people with difficult fate, which didn’t break them.” In interviews, DiCaprio has repeatedly stated that it was her upbringing that largely shaped him as a person. He grieved greatly when his beloved grandmother passed away in 2008 at the age of 93.
Actor, director and producer Sydney Pollack, who received an Oscar for the film Out of Africa and a nomination for the comedy Tootsie, was also born into an emigrant family - both his grandparents and parents were Odessa Jews. But Sidney Pollack himself was born in Indiana and considered himself one hundred percent American. “For me, the long-standing emigration of my parents from Odessa is exclusively from the region family legends", he said.
Actor, director, producer Sydney Pollack
Hollywood star Whoopi Goldberg
It’s hard to suspect someone who has Odessa roots is Whoopi Goldberg, but this is really so. Her great-grandmother maternal line She was also from Odessa, where she lived half her life. Having emigrated to the USA, she settled in New York. The actress always emphasized that she owes her character to her ancestors: “All the women in my family were strong personalities. They never called themselves feminists, did not utter loud words, but everything that happened within the family happened on their initiative. From them I inherited the habit of treating all troubles with humor.”
Legendary director Steven Spielberg
Hollywood star Steven Spielberg, director of the films "Schindler's List", "Indiana Jones", "Back to the Future", does not like to talk about his ancestors and their homeland - because of the dramatic circumstances that forced them to emigrate. The director’s maternal grandmother is from Odessa. She and her family fled the country during the Holocaust. Although Spielberg does not like to remember these tragic events, but does not deny his roots and admits that the favorite dish in their family for many years was borscht.
Sylvester Stallone
According to his father, actor Sylvester Stallone is Sicilian, but his mother was of French-Jewish origin with Odessa roots. His grandmother Rosa's family owned a jewelry store in Odessa. After the revolution, they emigrated first to France and then to the USA. In the mid-1980s. Stallone's mother, with the help of Mikhail Gorbachev, found her Odessa relatives and visited their homeland. The actor admitted: “I suddenly felt that I had much more maternal than Italian paternal genes.”
Many world-famous Hollywood actors, directors and producers were born into families of immigrants from Russian Empire or USSR.The publication “Culturology” has compiled a list of those who had Odessa grandmothers in their family.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leo never hid the fact that his grandmother, Helen Indenbirken, was known in her maiden name as Elena Stepanovna Smirnova. Most sources call her homeland Odessa, but some indicate the Kherson region of Ukraine. After the revolution, his grandmother and her family emigrated to Germany, where they remained during World War II.
The mother of the future Hollywood star was born in a bomb shelter during an air raid. Leo inherited his surname from his father with Italian-German roots.
After the end of the war, Elena Stepanovna and her husband moved to the USA. When she had a grandson in 1974, she became the closest person to him and was constantly with him. Leonardo DiCaprio always spoke about his grandmother with great love and respect and often appeared in front of cameras with her. The actor admired her willpower and was confident that her character was strengthened by the trials she experienced in her youth: “For me, my grandmother is the embodiment of inner strength and integrity. She went through poverty, war and emigration. Grandmother, grandfather and other relatives on their side are people with a difficult fate that did not break them.”
In interviews, DiCaprio has repeatedly stated that it was her upbringing that largely shaped him as a person. He grieved greatly when his beloved grandmother passed away in 2008 at the age of 93.
Sydney Pollack
Actor, director and producer Sydney Pollack, who received an Oscar for the film Out of Africa and a nomination for the comedy Tootsie, was also born into an emigrant family - his grandparents and parents were Odessa Jews. But Sidney Pollack himself was born in Indiana and considered himself one hundred percent American.
“For me, the long-standing emigration of my parents from Odessa is exclusively from the realm of family legends,” he said.
Whoopi Goldberg
It’s hard to suspect someone who has Odessa roots is Whoopi Goldberg, but this is really so. Her maternal great-grandmother was also from Odessa, where she lived half her life. Having emigrated to the USA, she settled in New York. The actress always emphasized that she owes her character to her ancestors: “All the women in my family were strong personalities. They never called themselves feminists, did not utter loud words, but everything that happened within the family happened on their initiative. From them I inherited the habit of treating all troubles with humor.”
Steven Spielberg
The director of the cult films "Schindler's List", "Indiana Jones" and "Back to the Future" does not like to talk about his ancestors and their homeland - because of the dramatic circumstances that forced them to emigrate. The director’s maternal grandmother is from Odessa. She and her family fled the country during the Holocaust. Although Spielberg does not like to remember these tragic events, he does not deny his roots and admits that the favorite dish in their family for many years was borscht.
Sylvester Stallone
According to his father, the actor is Sicilian, but his mother was of French-Jewish origin with Odessa roots. His grandmother Rosa's family owned a jewelry store in Odessa. After the revolution, they emigrated first to France and then to the USA. In the mid-1980s, Stallone's mother, with the help of Mikhail Gorbachev, found her Odessa relatives and visited their homeland.
The actor admitted: “I suddenly felt that I had much more maternal than Italian paternal genes.”
Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the most famous and talented actors modernity. His filmography includes melodramas, serious films, fantasy action films, and TV series. The actor was born and raised in the USA, but has repeatedly emphasized that he is proud of his Russian roots.
What was the name of Leonardo DiCaprio's grandmother?
Leonardo inherited Russian blood from his mother’s side, namely from his grandmother. The name of Leonardo DiCaprio's grandmother is Elena Stepanovna Smirnova. It was under this name that she was born in pre-revolutionary Russia and lived here the first years of her life. By the way, exact information about where the Smirnov family came from is unknown. There is evidence that Leonardo DiCaprio's Russian grandmother was from Perm. Other sources call the city Odessa or Kherson region. However, Leo himself never specified the exact place of her birth; he usually says simply “from Russia.” And although both Odessa and Kherson now belong to Ukraine, his grandmother left the country during the revolution, when these regions were part of the Russian Empire.
After the revolution, Elena's parents immigrated to Germany, where the girl grew up. Here her name was changed into a German style, and she began to call herself Helen.
When Helen grew up, she married Leonardo DiCaprio's grandfather and took her husband's last name - Indenbirken. A girl was born into their family, who was named Imerlin.
All second world war Russian grandmother and grandfather Leonardo DiCaprio spent in fascist Germany. Leaving the country, much less emigrating, was impossible at that time. Helen herself said in an interview that her daughter Imerlin was born in 1943 in a bomb shelter during an air raid. The family miraculously was not subjected to repression by the fascist authorities, because it seems that Leonardo DiCaprio’s grandfather also had Russian roots. The actor has stated this more than once, saying that he is “not a quarter, but half Russian.”
Immigration to the USA and relationship with grandsonAfter the end of the war in the early 50s, the family moved to the United States. Here the Indenbirkens lived in a community among other German immigrants. According to some sources, Elena Smirnova arrived in America not with her husband, but with a new lover from Italy, but this information is refuted by an interview with Helen herself. She states that she lived with her husband, and in 1985 they decided to return to Germany.
In 1974, a grandson was born in Helen Indenbirken, who was given the name Leonardo. The grandmother took an active part in raising the child and was a very close person to him. Leonardo DiCaprio always speaks fondly of his grandmother, and also of the fact that Russian blood flows in his veins. He especially emphasizes that his grandfather was Russian, that is, he is not a quarter Russian, but a half.
Leonardo DiCaprio also says about his grandmother that she was the strongest and most internally complete person he had ever met in his life. Even in Hard times she could maintain her dignity and inner core; trials did not frighten her.
Despite the fact that Elena left Russia back in childhood, he retained the knowledge. Leonardo DiCaprio met with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in 2010, during his trip to St. Petersburg. Then, when asked if he spoke Russian, Leo replied that he did not, but his grandmother would be happy to chat with the Prime Minister.
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Elena Stepnovna Smirnova, also known as Helen Indenbirken, died in 2008 at the age of 93. However, her memory lives on. Leonardo DiCaprio in many interviews notes the contribution of his grandmother that she made to the formation of character and, as well as how truthful and honest this person was, what loving woman She was.
Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio - famous American actor and producer, Oscar winner, four times nominated for an Oscar, winner of three Golden Globe awards, nominated for the Saturn Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Sputnik Award.
Leonardo DiCaprio's childhood
Leonardo DiCaprio was born on November 11, 1974 in Los Angeles, California. Leonardo is the only child in the family.
Leonardo's father, George DiCaprio (b. 1943), has half Italian (from Naples), half German (from Bavaria) roots. DiCaprio Sr. is a comic book author.
Leo with his grandparents (Photo: lib.rus.ec)
Leonardo's mother, Irmelin Indenbirken (b. 1943), was born in a bomb shelter in the West German city of Or-Ekenschwick. On his mother's side, Leonardo DiCaprio also has Russian roots. DiCaprio's grandmother is Russian emigrant Helena Indenbriken, née Elena Stepanovna Smirnova (1915−2008). Leonardo’s grandfather is German Wilhelm Indenbirken, although DiCaprio himself said in an interview that his grandfather was also Russian, and therefore he himself is “not a quarter, but half Russian.”
In 1955, Wilhelm and Helena left for the United States when Irmelin was 12 years old.
The mother named her son Leonardo in honor of the great Leonardo da Vinci, whose works she admired while visiting museums in Italy. When Leo was one year old, George and Irmelin divorced, and the son remained with his mother. DiCaprio's father soon married, but his mother never remarried. Her mother, the actor’s Russian grandmother Elena Stepanovna, helped raise Leonardo.
Little Leo with mom and dad - with Irmelin and George DiCaprio (Photo: lib.rus.ec)
Leonardo DiCaprio lived in several Los Angeles neighborhoods, such as Eco Park and Hillhurst Avenue. These were not the most prosperous places.
Leonardo recalled: “...I saw what drugs do to people: you no longer belong to yourself. I never wanted this, drugs never interested me. Growing up, I didn't have many friends; I mostly spent time with my family. But it was thanks to my parents that life in this neighborhood didn’t affect me so much.”
Leonardo DiCaprio began his education in primary school Sidd, and then entered the Los Angeles Advanced Science Center, studying there for four years.
Leonardo DiCaprio in his youth (Photo: rebloggy.com)
Leonardo DiCaprio: film career
Leonardo's film career began at the age of 2.5 in a children's show, where the baby was brought by his father. Then, as a teenager, DiCaprio starred in commercials. Leonardo even managed to star in feature films— he appeared in an episode of the popular TV series “Santa Barbara.” Then young Leo participated in the series “Roseanne” and “The New Adventures of Lassie.”
But DiCaprio's main roles, of course, were ahead. Leonardo DiCaprio was truly noticed in 1991, when he starred in the horror comedy Critters 3. Then Leonardo was invited to the series “Growing Pains” and immediately DiCaprio received a more lucrative offer - a role in the film “This Guy’s Life.” It was in this film that Leonardo DiCaprio met Robert De Niro.
Still from the film "This Boy's Life". Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Barkin and Robert De Niro
Having angelic appearance, Leonardo was forced to act in the role of sugary handsome men, and in the end he got tired of it. In 1993, Leonardo DiCaprio had the opportunity to play the unusual role of a mentally retarded boy, Arnie, in the film What's Eating Gilbert Grape, alongside Johnny Depp. The actor was 19 years old, and for the first time he was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe. "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" became one of best films DiCaprio.
Leonardo DiCaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape
In those years, Leonardo DiCaprio's list of star partners included, in addition to Johnny Depp and Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman and Russell Crowe.
1996 brought Leonardo colossal success in the film Romeo + Juliet. Although the film was an interpretation of Shakespeare's tragedy, the events of the play were transferred to modern times. The film was great financial success, although he got a lot of criticism from critics.
Claire Dines and Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie "Romeo + Juliet"
More more success and the next film with Leonardo DiCaprio, James Cameron’s Titanic, caused a real sensation. The film received 11 Oscar awards. However, film academics did not nominate Leonardo in the Best Actor category. DiCaprio refused to attend the ceremony. Fans of the actor were outraged, so it began Long story complex relationship between Leonardo and the Oscars.
The kiss between Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie Titanic is recognized as the best kiss in the history of Hollywood cinema.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in the movie "Titanic"
Leonardo DiCaprio was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and his role in Titanic established Leonardo as the highest paid actor in Hollywood. And in 1997, DiCaprio was included in the list of the 50 most beautiful people world according to People magazine.
The actor's role as Leonardo DiCaprio in the crime tragicomedy directed by Steven Spielberg "Catch Me If You Can" (2002) also brought success to the actor. The film received positive reviews from critics and became for DiCaprio one of the highest-grossing films of his career. It brought Leonardo DiCaprio a third Golden Globe nomination.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Karri McLain and Hilary Rose Zalman in the film "Catch Me If You Can"
In the same 2002, DiCaprio starred with director Martin Scorsese in the film “Gangs of New York” about the clash between gangs of “native” Americans and immigrants in New York. Leonardo failed again, and the film itself did not receive a single award out of 10 Oscar nominations. But Gangs of New York was a success and the film became one of DiCaprio's best films.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York
Leonardo DiCaprio continued to work with Scorsese. He starred in the film “The Aviator,” for which he received his first Golden Globe and was again nominated for an Oscar, but the award again passed him by. DiCaprio was nominated for an Oscar 6 times in total, in five cases the award went into other hands. According to astrologer Pavel Globa, Russian roots for a long time prevented DiCaprio from winning an Oscar. In Chelyabinsk they promised to reward Leonardo DiCaprio with their own.
Still from the film “The Aviator”
Blood Diamond (directed by Edward Zwick) and The Departed (directed by Martin Scorsese) are 2006 films starring Leonardo DiCaprio. He was again nominated for the Golden Globe and BAFTA.
In 2008-2013, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the film Body of Lies (2008, directed by Ridley Scott), the psychological thriller Shutter Island (2010, directed by Martin Scorsese), and the science fiction film Inception "(2010, dir. Christopher Nolan). All of these films are considered among the best in DiCaprio's filmography.
DiCaprio's starring roles include the villainous slave owner in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained and Jay Gatsby in the film adaptation of Francis Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The film received mixed reviews from critics, but DiCaprio's performance was highly praised.
Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie "The Great Gatsby"
After finishing work on the film “Silence,” American director Martin Scorsese, together with actor Leonardo DiCaprio, began a new project. Scorsese's new film, The Devil in the White City, will be an adaptation of Erik Larson's book of the same name. The novel tells about the first officially registered American serial killer- Henry Howard Holmes.
Leonardo DiCaprio's first Oscar
Since the fall of 2014, DiCaprio participated in the months-long filming of the film “The Revenant,” directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. With this role, according to critics, Leonardo DiCaprio should once again qualify for an Oscar.
By the Oscars 2015 ceremony, the hysteria about DiCaprio not being awarded this award had reached its climax. In world news and Russian media a lot has been written about whether Leonardo will receive the prize, which was not given to him so many times. Leonardo DiCaprio was nominated for an award for Best Actor; he himself asked his agent to ensure that journalists did not ask him questions about the possibility of him receiving an Oscar.
Leonardo DiCaprio has a house in Los Angeles and an apartment in Battery Park City in Lower Manhattan. And back in 2009, the actor bought the island of Blackadore near Belize, where he plans to open an ecological clean resort.
The Free Press reported that actor Leonardo DiCaprio has decided to sell his 3,560-square-foot mansion, built in 1931. The cost of the mansion is $1.749 million. The artist purchased the property in 1999 after filming “Titanic” for an amount greater than 870 thousand dollars.
The name of Leonardo DiCaprio's grandmother is Elena Stepanovna Smirnova. It was under this name that she was born in pre-revolutionary Russia and lived here the first years of her life.
Unfortunately, exact information about where the Smirnov family came from is unknown. There is evidence that Leonardo DiCaprio's Russian grandmother was from Perm. Other sources call the city Odessa or Kherson region. However, Leo himself never specified the exact place of her birth; he usually says simply “from Russia.”
After the revolution, Elena's parents immigrated to Germany, where the girl grew up. Here her name was changed into German, and she began to call herself Helen. When Helen grew up, she married Leonardo DiCaprio's grandfather and took her husband's last name - Indenbirken. A girl was born into their family, who was named Imerlin.
Leonardo DiCaprio's Russian grandmother and grandfather spent the entire Second World War in Nazi Germany. Leaving the country, much less emigrating, was impossible at that time. Helen herself said in an interview that her daughter Imerlin was born in 1943 in a bomb shelter during an air raid. The family miraculously was not subjected to repression by the fascist authorities, because it seems that Leonardo DiCaprio’s grandfather also had Russian roots. The actor has stated this more than once, saying that he is “not a quarter, but half Russian.”
Leonardo DiCaprio with his grandmother Helena Indenbirken (Elena Smirnova) and grandfather Dusseldorf
After the end of the war in the early 50s, the family moved to the United States. Here the Indenbirkens lived in a community among other German immigrants.
In 1974, Helen Indenbirken had a grandson, who was named Leonardo. The grandmother took an active part in raising the child and was a very close person to him.
Leonardo DiCaprio always speaks fondly of his grandmother, and also of the fact that Russian blood flows in his veins. He especially emphasizes that his grandfather was Russian, that is, he is not a quarter Russian, but a half.
Leonardo DiCaprio also says about his grandmother that she was the strongest and most internally complete person he had ever met in his life. Even in difficult times, she could maintain her dignity and inner core; trials did not frighten her.
Despite the fact that Elena left Russia as a child, she retained her knowledge of the Russian language. Leonardo DiCaprio met with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in 2010, during his trip to St. Petersburg. Then, when asked if he spoke Russian, Leo replied that no, but his grandmother would love to chat with the Prime Minister!
Elena Stepnovna Smirnova, also known as Helen Indenbirken, died in 2008 at the age of 93. However, her memory lives on. Leonardo DiCaprio notes in many interviews invaluable contribution grandmother, what she did in shaping his character and upbringing, as well as how truthful and honest this person was, what a loving and wonderful woman she was in every way.