Leonardo DiCaprio tried to cut nude scene from Don’t Look Up

Leonardo DiCaprio’s movies have featured plenty of X-rated moments, but there was one racy scene in his latest film that he wanted cut out.

Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t want Meryl Streep stripping naked in their new comedy, Don’t Look Up.

The film’s director, Adam McKay, made the declaration in an interview with The Guardian, saying DiCaprio, 47, believed Streep, 72, was too much of an icon to get nude on camera.

In the film, the three-time Oscar winner plays President Janie Orlean, who is seen naked from behind in one scene. Streep didn’t strip down for the saucy scene, instead employing a body double for the flesh-flashing moment, reports the NY Post.

Jonah Hill, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence in Don’t Look Up. Picture: Netflix

But DiCaprio was said to still be opposed to the idea.

“She is fearless,” said McKay of Streep, while speaking with The Guardian.

“And yes, that is a body double. But you know who had a problem with it? Leo [DiCaprio]. Leo just views Meryl as film royalty … although maybe royalty is not a compliment … but as such a special figure in the history of film.”

McKay continued: “He didn’t like seeing her with the lower back tattoo, walking for a second naked. He said something to me like: ‘Do you really need to show that?’ And I was like: ‘It’s President Orlean; it’s not Meryl Streep.’ But she didn’t even blink. She didn’t even bring it up.”

DiCaprio plays Dr. Randall Mindy alongside Jennifer Lawrence as Kate Dibiasky in the doomsday film. Picture: Niko Tavernise/Netflix

Streep takes on the role as US President.

DiCaprio has known Streep for decades, which perhaps explains his unease with the idea of the screen queen being stark naked on film.

Streep played DiCaprio’s mum in the 1996 drama Marvin’s Room, which also starred Diane Keaton and Robert De Niro.

DiCaprio told E! last week that he and the rest of the Golden Globe-nominated Don’t Look Up cast were nervous to be on set with Streep.

“You get to work with the greatest living actor in the world. Everyone’s on their toes. Everyone’s prepared, and we’re just trying to keep up with her,” he explained.

Despite her long career in film, Streep has never done a full-frontal nude scene.

However, the 21-time Oscar nominee has steamed up screens in some older films. She went topless on a massage table in the racy 1982 psychological thriller, Still of the Night, although her assets were covered up.

The icon also stripped down for a skinny-dipping moment in 1994’s The River Wild and was seen shedding her clothes in a steamy sex scene alongside Clint Eastwood in The Bridges of Madison County in 1995.

This article originally appeared in the NY Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Leonardo DiCaprio tried to cut nude scene from Don’t Look Up