Though Leonardo DiCaprio can largely thank Titanic for his international fame, director James Cameron says that he nearly sent DiCaprio on his way when the young actor brought a nasty attitude to his audition for the 1997 blockbuster.

Sitting down for a reflection on his career with GQ, Cameron shared how his initial meeting with the “charming” DiCaprio was quickly overshadowed by their second encounter when the actor was invited back for a read with already-cast co-star Kate Winslet.

“…[He] came back a couple of days later, and I had the camera set up to record the video. He didn’t know he was going to test. He thought it was another meeting to meet Kate.

So I said, ‘Okay we’ll just go in the next room, and we’ll run some lines and I’ll video it.’ And he said, ‘You mean, I’m reading?’”

“He said, ‘Oh, I don’t read.’ I shook his hand and said, ‘Thanks for coming by.’ And he said, ‘Wait, wait, wait. If I don’t read, I don’t get the part? Just like that?’”

Flabbergasted by the young actor’s arrogance, the Oscar-winning filmmaker recalled giving DiCaprio an ultimatum: respect my time by reading the script, or you’re out.

“Come on. This is a giant movie that is going to take two years of my life, and you’ll be gone doing five other things while I’m doing post-production. So, I’m not going to f— it up by making the wrong decision in casting.

“So you’re going to read, or you’re not going to get the part.”

Cameron Casts DiCaprio Despite Negative Attitude: I Called Action and ‘He Turned Into Jack’

     Paramount Pictures

Despite the What’s Eating Gilbert Grape actor’s initial refusal, DiCaprio begrudgingly read for the part of ill-fated heartthrob Jack Dawson—and immediately secured the role.

“So he comes in, and he’s like every ounce of his entire being is just so negative—right up until I said, ‘Action.’ Then he turned into Jack. Kate just lit up, and they played the scene,” Cameron recounted, sharing that he instantaneously knew DiCaprio was the man for the job.

“Kate just lit up, and they played the scene. Dark clouds had opened up, and a ray of sun came down and lit up Jack. I’m like, ‘All right. He’s the guy.’”

Negative attitudes aside, it’s safe to say that Cameron made the right choice in his casting: DiCaprio and Winslet’s chemistry helped the heartbreaking historical drama become one of the top-grossing movies of all time.

Watch Cameron’s full interview with GQ below: