Robert De Niro doesn’t see himself as an acting legend, at least not in his own eyes.
Despite being hailed as one of the greatest actors of all time and just receiving the honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the 81-year-old star insists he’s not that special.
In a recent chat with The Guardian, De Niro gave a rare, humble take on his career, saying, “I still don’t see myself as great. When you go home and talk to your significant other, believe me, you’re not great.”
This is from the same man who starred in Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Godfather Part II, and Heat. De Niro’s work has inspired generations of actors, but the Hollywood icon remains grounded, even as he closes in on his 82nd birthday this August.
And yes, he knows time is catching up with him. “Things change, that’s for sure,” he said. “If you’re walking down a couple of stairs, you get people coming to help you. I’ve realized now I’m older that people look at me a little differently. But I’m old; it could be worse. I feel pretty good. I’m in control of myself physically. I hope that can last forever. But I know that it won’t.”
De Niro accepted the honorary Palme d’Or on the opening night of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious lifetime achievements in cinema. The award was handed to him by none other than Leonardo DiCaprio, his co-star from the 1993 drama This Boy’s Life.
DiCaprio, now 50, spoke about how deeply De Niro shaped his own approach to acting. “Growing up in Los Angeles, every young actor I knew watched De Niro’s work. We studied him, trying to understand how he immersed himself so completely in his characters. He created the blueprint. He wasn’t just another great actor; he was the actor.”
DiCaprio also told a funny story about how he landed his breakout role opposite De Niro. “The audition process was a tough one. Lots of competition. None of us knew who would get the part … at 15 or 16 years old, I did the only thing I could think of to stand out. I screamed at him at the top of my lungs. The room burst into laughter. Later that day, as the story goes, Bob was getting on his plane with a producer. Art Linson asked, ‘Who do you want to play the part?’ And in classic De Niro fashion, he replied, ‘Second kid from the last.’ Luckily, that second kid was me, and that moment changed my life forever.”
So, while De Niro might not think of himself as one of the greats, everyone around him, from fans to fellow actors to the entire Cannes jury, clearly disagrees. Even after decades in the game, he’s still showing up, being honored, and staying humble. It’s classic De Niro: no fuss, just legacy.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
