News | Entertainment
26 Jan 2026 17:56
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Zac Efron says Leonardo DiCaprio taught him how to cope with fame

    The 32-year-old actor first met Leonardo back in 2008 when they sat next to each other at a Los Angeles Lakers game, and has said he visited the Hollywood star’s home the next day to have breakfast, where he learned some valuable tips on managing life in the spotlight


    Speaking about their initial meeting at the basketball game, Zac said: "I was just kind of going to wait for him [to talk] and sure enough he had his hat down low and then as soon as the ball went to the other side he was like, 'Hey man, do you want to go get breakfast tomorrow?’ And I was like, 'Yeah, dude.’

    "So he wrote his phone number down and handed it to me while the other team was scoring and nobody saw and I took it.”

    The ‘High School Musical’ star admits the food served the next day wasn’t great, but says he had a memorable conversation with Leonardo about “dealing with too much paparazzi presence”.

    He added: "He cooked waffles and then he burnt those and then we made pancakes. It was awesome. I had a billion questions for him at that point. Definitely dealing with too much paparazzi presence in my life. And sitting next to Leo I was just like, 'Dude, how have you handled this for so long?' And he was like, 'Frankly, you're getting it a little bit different.’ ”

    In total, 10 cars had followed Zac all the way to the ‘Titanic’ star’s house, and whilst Zac felt “anxiety” about the paparazzi, Leonardo made him realise he wasn’t alone.

    Whilst taking part in 'Hot Ones' - the celebrity YouTube series where stars tuck into flaming hot spicy chicken wings whilst answering questions - he said: "He was like, 'Yeah, there's never this many cars here ... That's insane dude.' And I saw in his eyes a little bit of the feeling that I consistently was having all the time, which was just stress and anxiety. And he was like, 'Don't worry about it, man. You're good.’

    "I really appreciate that he took that time. He made me feel good about it, helped me a little bit. That’s the biggest hand you can extend if you're in Hollywood, looking out for somebody younger.

    "So rock on, Leo. Thank you, buddy."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     26 Jan: Billie Eilish hit out at ICE as she received an award for her environmental advocacy
     26 Jan: Rebecca Loos is pleased Brooklyn Peltz Beckham is "standing up for himself"
     26 Jan: Claire Foy has likened starring in The Crown to being in a "blockbuster film"
     26 Jan: Timothy Busfield has been edited out of the movie You Deserve Each Other in the wake of his child sex abuse charges
     26 Jan: Jodie Foster still has scars after being "mauled by a lion" as a child
     26 Jan: Billy Bob Thornton has rubbished claims that he is leaving Landman
     26 Jan: Ashton Kutcher has insisted he does shower years after widespread debate about his bathing habits
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    New Zealand Rugby interim CEO Steve Lancaster says their All Blacks coaching policy change, to only accept candidates with test experience, isn't admitting they got it wrong with Scott Robertson More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    US copied Iran's Shahed drones — now they are deployed in the Middle East More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Billie Eilish hit out at ICE as she received an award for her environmental advocacy 17:31

    Politics:
    Labour's firmly rejecting Te Pati Maori's campaign policy - to abolish prisons and replace them with community community-led solutions by 2040 17:27

    Politics:
    Jules Radich is being remembered for his fight for Dunedin's new hospital 17:27

    Cricket:
    New Zealand batter Mark Chapman is in awe of India's ability to swing the willow in their T20 cricket series, which doubles as their World Cup build-up 17:07

    Entertainment:
    Rebecca Loos is pleased Brooklyn Peltz Beckham is "standing up for himself" 17:01

    Cricket:
    The Auckland Hearts have qualified for the women's elimination final of cricket's Super Smash 16:57

    Entertainment:
    Claire Foy has likened starring in The Crown to being in a "blockbuster film" 16:31

    Environment:
    No certainty New Zealand's summer will improve in coming months 16:17

    Rugby:
    New Zealand Rugby interim CEO Steve Lancaster says their All Blacks coaching policy change, to only accept candidates with test experience, isn't admitting they got it wrong with Scott Robertson 16:07

    Entertainment:
    Timothy Busfield has been edited out of the movie You Deserve Each Other in the wake of his child sex abuse charges 16:01


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd