How Old Was Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘Titanic’? Plus More Facts About Everyone’s Favorite ’90s Movie

You jump, I jump, remember? Though it’s been 20 years — yeah, we can’t believe it either! — since Titanic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, fans will always remember — or should we say, they’ll never let go? — the tragic love story of Rose and Jack.

With iconic scenes like Jack holding onto Rose on the bow of the ship and of course, the infamous nudity scene where Jack paints Rose “like one of your French girls,” it’s no wonder this James Cameron film — and all of the memorable quotes — remain vivid in all of our minds.

If you’re still dazzled by Kate and Leo’s palpable chemistry even now years later, you’re not the only one. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Kate once recalled knowing her co-star so well, she was able to order his food for him.

“Leo was so tired,” Winslet said. “The assistant asked, ‘What do you want on [your sandwich]?’ and Leo said, ‘Oh, Kate will tell you.’ And Leo just kind of fell asleep. And I did know exactly what he wanted this kind of cheese and no tomato and no pickle. I absolutely knew. And I thought, ‘God, that’s really weird that I know this person so well.’ It was brilliant.”

As we celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the film, many fans of Leo — who finally won his first Oscar in 2016 for The Revenant — Kate, and the movie itself still have questions about the popular blockbuster. Keep reading to find out five little-known facts about the movie!

How old was Leonardo DiCaprio when he filmed Titanic?

Leo — a longtime environmental activist — was just 22 years old when he co-starred alongside Kate Winslet in the film. At the time, she was 21.

Are Titanic characters real?

Everyone knows that the movie Titanic was based on a real historical event: The British passenger line was set to sail from Southampton, UK to New York City when it sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on April 14, 1912. Only about 706 passengers survived the accident; the incident claimed over 1,500 lives of both passengers and crew.

Despite the reality of this gruesome history, Jack and Rose are fictional characters and not based on real people. There was a passenger aboard the ship named J. Dawson but his first name was Joseph. He was part of the crew and worked as a coal trimmer. James Cameron did not discover this connection until after the movie was made; it’s only sheer coincidence. James Cameron garnered his inspiration for the character of Rose from American avant-garde artist and potter Beatrice Wood. However, she has no connection to the ship, nor does her family. Characters like Molly Brown, Captain Edward John Smith, John Jacob Astor IV, and Thomas Andrews (among others) were based on real passengers.

Are Titanic survivors still alive?

No. The last living survivor was Millvina Dean, who died in 2009 from complications caused by pneumonia. Though she possessed no actual memory of the tragic sinking, as she was a two-month-old baby who was put into a life boat, she was the youngest passenger on the liner, and thus, the youngest survivor.

A month prior to Dean’s demise, Leonardo, Kate, and James Cameron donated $25,000 to help pay her nursing home fees. Dean was 97 at the time of her death.

Did Leonardo DiCaprio win an Oscar for Titanic?

No, he did not. While Titanic took home Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and more, Leonardo wasn’t even nominated for Best Actor.

Does Leonardo say “nickelodeon” in Titanic?

“I saw that on a nickelodeon once and always wanted to do it.” That’s what Leonardo DiCaprio’s on-screen character Jack Dawson says as Rose comes down the stairs of the ship and into the dining room. He kisses her hand before delivering the infamous, often-fussed-about line. So what does it really mean?

Back then, nickelodeon was a device that required a penny in its slot. Before film projectors, it was a way for viewers to watch a minute’s “video” through an eyepiece. People often get confused about this line because they misinterpret it as the children’s TV network, aptly titled “Nickelodeon.”