Although Leto was once known as the teen heartthrob Jordan Catalano in the critically acclaimed ABC series 'My So-Called Life,' Leto says that he never intended, nor desired, to be a teen star.
"I was never interested in 'Teen Beat' like roles," Leto said. "I just wanted to work. I had no idea how 'My So-Called Life' would be perceived by audiences, not along me and my character."
Leto is grateful for his role on "My So-Called Life," though. The role of Jordan Catalano opened up the doors for Leto to star in and work with some of the most talked about films and directors of our time at a very young stage in his career. Amongst the list, Jocelyn Moorhouse of 'How to Make an American Quilt,' David Fincher of 'Fight Club' and Terrence Malik of 'The Thin Red Line.' Most recently audiences caught Leto in James Mangold's Girl, Interrupted' and Mary Harron's 'American Psycho.'
"Working with those directors and being in those films was great," Leto said. "Working with Darren though was incredible. He supported me and kept me from going off the deep end while working 'Requiem for a Dream.' I didn't experience the things I went through alone-- we experienced them together."
While most actors get a hands-on feel for the roles they are playing, Leto obviously couldn't do a lot of heroin to get a feel for the role of a heroin addict. Instead, Leto and Aronofsky decided to go to New York's streets and live with junkies for awhile to feel what they feel and experience what the experience on an everyday basis.
"We were robbed at gunpoint, I saw a girl OD in front of me and end up in a coma... it was horrifying, but I wanted to experience what my character did and saw," Leto recalls. "It is difficult to look at the truth, but it is an important part of art."
To furthermore prepare himself for the role of Harry, Leto lost 25 pounds for the look of a skinny, worn-out, drug addict.
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