Leonardo DiCaprio says he has thanked ‘amazing’ Sharon Stone ‘many times’ for paying his wage on The Quick And The Dead when he was 21

Leonardo DiCaprio has expressed his gratitude to the ‘amazing’ Sharon Stone for paying his wages for their 1995 film The Quick And The Dead.

At the time of that photo, Leo was a 21-year-old up-and-coming actor and Sharon was one of Hollywood’s reigning female superstars.

Sharon, 65, revealed in her memoir that she was deeply impressed by Leo’s audition, but the brass at TriStar Pictures was leery of hiring an “unknown.”

“The studio said if I wanted it that bad, I could pay for it out of my own salary,” the Casino actress wrote in her book. “So I did.”

In a new interview with E! News, Leo gushed, “I have thanked her many times. I don’t know if I sent her a real, physical thank you, but I can’t thank her enough.”

Looking back: Sharon, pictured (left) in June, revealed in her memoir that she was deeply impressed by the audition she saw this week from Leo, pictured (right)

He recalled that Sharon hand-picked him and Russell Crowe for their roles, after being impressed by their previous film performances.

Russell impressed her in his 1992 Australian skinhead drama Romper Stomper, while Leo won her approval for his role alongside Johnny Depp in the 1993 coming-of-age film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.

‘She said, ‘These are the two actors I want to work with.’ It’s incredible,” Leonardo commented afterwards. “She’s a great advocate for cinema and giving opportunities to other actors, so I’m very grateful.”

Two years after The Quick And The Dead, Leonardo shot to global heartthrob status as the lead in James Cameron’s Titanic.

Three years later, it was Russell’s turn to be coveted around the world for his smoldering turn in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator.

Sharon published her memoir The Beauty Of Living Twice two years ago and told the story of how she got Leo the job on The Quick And The Dead.

“This guy named Leonardo DiCaprio was the only one who nailed the audition,” she recalled. “I think he was the only one who came in and cried, begging his father to love him as he died on the spot.”

The suits at TriStar were less enthusiastic, wondering: “Why an unknown, Sharon, why do you always shoot yourself in the foot?”

Details: Leo recalled that Sharon handpicked him and Russell Crowe for their roles, after being impressed with their previous performances; Russell is depicted in The Quick And The Dead

Directed by Sam Raimi, The Quick And The Dead stars Sharon as a mysterious gunslinger in the Wild West on a mission to avenge her father

Flashback: Leo earned Sharon’s approval for his role opposite Johnny Depp in the 1993 coming-of-age film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (pictured)

‘This kid…’: Sharon published her memoir The Beauty Of Living Twice two years ago and told the story of how she got Leo the job on The Quick And The Dead

Oops: Last weekend he was roundly mocked online for viral images of him at his star-studded 49th birthday party

Everyone had a good time: Fans gleefully roasted the performance, comparing it to Kendall Roy’s cringe-worthy rap on Succession at a party for his father Logan Roy

Directed by Sam Raimi, The Quick And The Dead stars Sharon as a mysterious sniper in the Wild West on a mission to avenge her father.

Although the film received lukewarm critical responses and flopped at the box office upon release, it later acquired a cult fan base.

Leo can now be seen in the sprawling new epic Killers Of The Flower Moon, which marks his sixth film with Martin Scorsese.

Last weekend, he was roundly mocked online for viral images of him at his star-studded 49th birthday party.

Fans gleefully roasted the spectacle, comparing it to Kendall Roy’s cringe-worthy rap on Succession at a party for his father Logan Roy.