Saturday, 28 March 2009

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Leonardo DiCaprio: I grew up in a drug-infested neighbourhood

Actor was surrounded by drugs and hookers

Leonardo DiCaprio got beaten up as a kid

Leonardo DiCaprio had a tough childhood.

The Oscar-nominated actor was raised in LA’s Echo Park, which he describes as 'the central area for crack cocaine, heroin and prostitution.’

‘I saw people have sex in the alleys,’ says Leonardo.

‘I remember, at five years old, having this guy with a trench coat, needles and crack, corner me... It was pretty terrifying. There were rough kids. I got beat up a lot.’

Leonardo, 34, admits his surroundings put him off experimenting with illegal substances.

‘I knew drugs were bad, even as a little kid,’ he tells The Sunday Times Magazine.

‘Seeing the effects that drugs had on my block, seeing heroin addicts, it made me think twice about ever getting involved in drugs.’

Bim Adewunmi