Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend Camila Morrone defends their 23-year age gap

'Anyone should be able to date who they want to'

Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriend Camila Morrone has spoken out to defend their relationship.

The 22-year-old model and actor made rare comments about her romance with the 45-year-old Academy Award winner in a new interview with the Los Angeles Times.

Morrone, who has received praise for her breakout role in the independent film Mickey and the Bear, said she doesn’t understand the criticism of the couple’s 23-year age difference.

“There’s so many relationships in Hollywood – and in the history of the world – where people have large age gaps,” Morrone said.

“I just think anyone should be able to date who they want to date.”

The actor went on to say that she finds it “frustrating” that people refer to her as DiCaprio’s girlfriend but that she is hopeful that will change.

“I think more and more now that people are seeing the film, I’m slowly getting an identity outside of that,” Morrone added.

“Which is frustrating, because I feel like there should always be an identity besides who you’re dating.

“I understand the association, but I’m confident that will continue to slip away and be less of a conversation.”

However, Morrone said she understands people’s fascination with her relationship, admitting that she “probably would be curious about it too”.

The couple was first linked together in January 2018 during a trip to Aspen, Colorado.

Ever since then, DiCaprio and Morrone have been photographed numerous times.

In October, the pair were photographed holding hands in New York City and they were also spotted riding bikes around the city during the summer.

The couple also attended Coachella together earlier this year, and later, at the Cannes Film Festival where DiCaprio debuted his Quentin Tarantino film Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood.