Leonardo DiCaprioLeonardo DiCaprio has revealed that unlike many of his Hollywood contemporaries, he has never been tempted to use drugs - because he saw the consequences of substance abuse from a young age.

The Revolutionary Road star grew up in a drug-addled suburb of Los Angeles and explained recently: “I knew drugs were bad, even as a little kid. Seeing the effects that drugs had on my block, seeing heroin addicts, it made me think twice about ever getting involved in drugs.

“I was so horrified by what I saw drugs do to people that I never wanted anything to do with them. It’s evil.

“Once you take that step and experiment, drugs take over your life. You are not yourself any more. That’s something I never wanted.

“Then, when I was a young actor, I saw other actors die of drugs. I watched what happened to River Phoenix [who overdosed in 1993], who was such an influence on me as a young actor.

“Now Heath Ledger has died young. It is such a horrifying thought to know that those guys aren’t around any more. Every person has demons. We all have horrible fears and insecurities that we need to overcome.”