News | Entertainment
2 Mar 2026 15:42
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
     28 Feb: Justin Trudeau's son approves of his romance with Katy Perry
     28 Feb: Lupita Nyong'o has "over 50" uterine fibroids
     28 Feb: Hilary Duff has admitted she "intentionally" gatecrashed the premiere of her "childhood nemesis" Lindsay Lohan's movie Freaky Friday
     28 Feb: Christian Bale appears to have confirmed he will join the cast of Heat 2
     28 Feb: Barbra Streisand has paid tribute to Jennifer Aniston following the actress' recent birthday and her growing relationship with Jim Curtis
     27 Feb: Drew Barrymore travels down "memory lane" when looking at pictures of herself from her 1990s heyday
     27 Feb: Cruz Beckham's 21st birthday celebrations have gone on for a week
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Crusaders prop Tamaiti Williams has been cited for what's been deemed a reckless or dangerous act during their Super Rugby win over the Chiefs in Hamilton More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Wellington's mayor says the Council is not looking at compensating businesses on the wastewater plagued-southern coast More...



     Today's News

    Golf:
    Colombia's Nico Echavarria has benefited from leader Shane Lowry's shock late meltdown to triumph in the PGA Tour's latest event in Florida 15:27

    Business:
    Wellington's mayor says the Council is not looking at compensating businesses on the wastewater plagued-southern coast 15:27

    Accident and Emergency:
    Armed Police are attending an incident in Waikato's Parawera, southeast of Te Awamutu 14:57

    International:
    American service members killed as Iran strikes back against US-Israel attack 14:27

    Law and Order:
    Melbourne woman fears for her mother in Iranian prison amid US-Israeli strikes on Iran 14:17

    Living & Travel:
    AI is already creeping into election campaigns. NZ’s rules aren’t ready 14:07

    Rugby League:
    North Queensland's Vegas hangover is poised to continue with winger Braidon Burns facing a two-match NRL ban 14:07

    Motorsports:
    Tyler Reddick has held off a charging Shane van Gisbergen to make Nascar history 13:37

    Law and Order:
    Canterbury Police are asking the public to help find missing Rangiora woman Bethany who has Down's Syndrome 13:27

    International:
    The US and Israel have struck Iran: Who has been killed? 13:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd