Leonardo DiCaprio refuses to let the Academy Awards affect the film roles he chooses - because he doesn't trust the Academy to pick the right winners.

The actor claims too often the best man misses out, so he has learned not to think about awards.

DiCaprio - nominated in the Best Actor category for his film Blood Diamond - says, "I am quite young. The Academy Awards don't necessarily go to good work. They are a nice bonus and a lot of people think they are some plateau you need to reach in your work. But you have no control over that.

"To determine how an audience or Academy members are going to feel about your performance is a losing battle."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)