Leo loves SA wine
2006-03-12 19:27
Port Edward - American superstar Leonardo DiCaprio, working on his new movie Blood Diamond in Port Edward on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, apparently likes South African red wine - but isn't too interested in the town of Southbroom or its surroundings.
DiCaprio arrived in November with fellow Hollywood stars Jennifer Connelly and former South African actor Arnold Vosloo.
DiCaprio plays an American diamond smuggler in a movie about a poor farmer who becomes involved in diamond dealing in war-torn Sierra Leone in 1999.
Most of the scenes are being filmed around the Wild Coast Sun near Port Edward, at Port St Johns on the Transkei Wild Coast and in Mozambique.
The film crew on the set of the movie have signed a contract not to speak about the movie or its stars, but apparently DiCaprio is staying in a luxurious house in Southbroom which belongs to a Swiss man.
DiCaprio is hiring it at R5 000 a day. The house is guarded 24 hours a day and has five bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a heated pool, jacuzzi and a huge veranda looking out on the ocean.
DiCaprio has been seen here with his new girlfriend, Israeli model Bar Rafaeli.
The film crew apparently like hanging out at the bar of the Hotel Port Edward, where owner Boet van Rensburg, says the only famous person to have visited the bar, is Arnold Vosloo.
"He is a nice guy. Drives his own car without bodyguards, and still speaks fluent Afrikaans. He likes our beer and does not mind buying other people a drink."
At the local liquor store, expensive red and white wine is regularly bought for DiCaprio and his entourage.
He apparently likes to have a glass of wine in the evenings after work in his trailer on the movie set or at the house in Southbroom.
Meanwhile, estate agents are smiling broadly as all accommodation in the area has been booked for the film crew.