Leonardo DiCaprio: Gilbert Flores/Celebrityphoto.com

Leonardo DiCaprio

Age 28

That Martin Scorsese and Baz Luhrmann could think of no other actor to play Howard Hughes (in ''The Aviator'') and Alexander the Great, respectively, says something about DiCaprio's continuing allure for directors. As for moviegoers, ''Catch Me if You Can'''s $164 million box office probably had as much to do with Tom Hanks, but it's hard to imagine ''Gangs of New York'' grossing $78 million without him. It will be interesting to see which big D -- DiCaprio or De Niro -- gets props for their upcoming spy drama, ''The Good Shepherd.''