Leonardo DiCaprio and Teyana Taylor addressed one of One Battle After Another’s most talked-about behind-the-scenes moments during the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. The actor and his co-star explained why Taylor calls DiCaprio “Pops” and how the nickname reflects their on-screen and off-screen bond.
Teyana Taylor says she calls Leonardo DiCaprio ‘Pops’
At the 2026 Critics Choice Awards on January 4, Teyana Taylor referred to her One Battle After Another co-star Leonardo DiCaprio as “Pops” during an interview with E! News.
While discussing her role as Perfidia in the Paul Thomas Anderson film, Taylor said, “Preparing for Perfidia was a lot of conversation with P, good conversation, you know? Really building those layers and color-coordinating those layers and making sure we set it up for Perfidia to fall back for baby girl Willa to rise and take on these battles along with Pops right here.” When asked about the nickname, DiCaprio responded, “Love it. Love it. Whatever she wants to call me.”
Taylor and DiCaprio portray a couple in the film who share a daughter named Willa, played by Chase Infiniti. The storyline follows Perfidia’s capture by government forces led by Sean Penn’s character, Steven J. Lockjaw, and the resulting 16-year hiding of Pat and Willa under the names Bob and Willa Ferguson.
DiCaprio previously said in Esquire, “I’ve been wanting to work with you—Paul—for something like twenty years now,” referring to Anderson. “I loved this idea of the washed-up revolutionary trying to erase his past and disappear and try and live some sort of normal life raising his daughter.”
The film won three Critics Choice Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. DiCaprio and Taylor were nominated for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. The film is adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel Vineland. The pair first met at Diana Ross’s birthday party and became close friends. “That’s my wingman, my partner in crime!” Taylor said in a previous New York Times interview.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
