Golden Globes win could see DiCaprio finally end Oscar wait

It remains something of a surprise to many in Hollywood that one of its prized sons, Leonardo DiCaprio, is yet to taste much in the way of success when it comes to Awards season.

For an actor with such a distinguished career, having worked under decorated directors the likes of Steven Spielberg, James Cameron and Martin Scorses, DiCaprio is yet to come home from a night out at the Oscars with a famous golden statue, despite having been nominated three times.

His much-lauded performance as a bright-eyed nineteen year old – playing Archie Grape in 1993 movie What’s Eating Gilbert Grape – earned him a first Oscar nomination, and despite losing out to Tommy Lee Jones as Best Supporting Actor, plenty assumed that he would certainly have broken his duck over 20 years later.

And despite stand out performances in The Aviator (2004) and Blood Diamond (2006) that were nominated but not awarded, his recent leading roles in Shutter Island (2010), Inception (2010) and Django Unchained (2012) have gone completely unrecognised by the Academy.

But if the critical acclaim surrounding his latest performance is anything to go by, he might finally be required to recite his first Oscars speech. DiCaprio plays infamous stockbroker Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street, representing his fifth link-up with director Martin Scorsese.

The 39-year-old remains something of an outsider to claim his first Oscar for his depiction of Belfort, but his odds of 16/1 might well be worth an early punt should he bring home a Golden Globe for the same role.

The Golden Globes judges have been kinder to DiCaprio over the years, with ten nominations though only one win for The Aviator.

With the Globes often a strong barometer of how the Academy will sway, and with DiCaprio the 4/5 favourite in the Best Actor in a Comedy or Muscial category, should he win as expected it could be the biggest hint yet that he’ll sweep up at the Oscars.

DiCaprio’s rivals at the Globes, including Bruce Dern (5/4), Christian Bale (12/1) and Joaquin Phoenix (16/1), are also expected to feature prominently in Oscars talk, so should he claim victory in January as expected, watch him become considered a real contender for the big one in March.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.