Leonardo DiCaprio was in London on Tuesday for the UK premiere of Blood Diamond, when it was announced he had received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role in the film.
The 32-year-old actor plays the lead in the action-adventure that depicts the dirty world of conflict diamonds—rough diamonds that are used by rebel movements in parts of Africa to finance wars against legitimate governments.
DiCaprio was accompanied at the premiere by Djimon Hounsou, who has also received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, for his role in Blood Diamond.
Jennifer Connolly, who plays an American journalist investigating the diamond trade in the film, was also at the premiere.
Although the film brings home some uncomfortable truths about the diamond trade, the diamond industry is hoping that recent changes will persuade audiences that it has been cleaning up its act.
The film depicts the situation in the industry only a few years ago, but the number of conflict diamonds that make it to the high street has since dropped dramatically.
In 1999, conflict diamonds made up about 4 per cent of the international rough diamond output. In response to a growing call to end illegal trading, the diamond industry collaborated with the United Nations, to create a certification process, called the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).
The KPCS, adopted fully in 2003, has successfully reduced—but not eradicated—the trade in conflict diamonds. Today, 68 countries adhere to the KPCS, and the overall number of conflict diamonds has reportedly dropped to less than 1 percent.
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