Brad Pitt Reveals the Actors He Admires Most and the Names May Surprise You
In a classic 1996 interview with Tiger Beat, Brad Pitt proved that his taste in talent has always leaned toward substance over superficiality. When asked to name his favorite actress, he bypassed the typical Hollywood starlets of the era to name Dianne Wiest.
He argued that the greatest performers are rarely those labeled as beautiful s*x symbols, calling Wiest the most beautiful woman on the screen because of her incredible skill and presence.
Pitt also reflected on the actors who shaped his own view of masculinity and craft, noting that he found very few modern men to truly look up to at the time. Instead, he found himself drawn to the stars of the past who portrayed men standing up for their principles. He specifically cited Robert Redford as a major influence, describing him as the kind of figure who represented both what men wanted to be and what women wanted men to be.
This appreciation for the classics likely stems from a childhood spent on the hoods of cars at drive-in theaters in Oklahoma and Missouri. Pitt described his early years as being filled with a profound love for storytelling, escaping into the vast landscapes of classic westerns.
For him, movies were more than just entertainment; they were a way to bridge the gap between people, reminding audiences that despite being mysteries to ourselves, we’re all the same.
Before he was a household name, Pitt faced the same struggles as any aspiring actor, eventually dropping out of the University of Missouri just credits shy of a journalism degree.
He recalled his early days of hustle with a sense of wonder, from a small role on the soap opera Another World to landing a McDonald’s commercial that made his mother so proud. At just 22, he was already dreaming big, citing Jack Nicholson, Sean Penn, and Mickey Rourke as actors who completely blew his mind.
Even back then, Pitt had a clear vision for his future, calculating that by age 32, he hoped to be a respected actor with his own production company. He looked to Kevin Costner as the gold standard for a career that balanced being on top with being taken seriously by his peers. Decades later, it is clear that Pitt not only achieved those goals but surpassed them, becoming a dual-threat powerhouse as both a leading man and a prolific producer.
As of February, Brad Pitt is currently enjoying a massive career resurgence following the global success of his racing epic, F1. The film recently picked up a AMPS award for its sound design and has been a dominant force throughout the current awards season.
While a sequel is being teased by Formula 1 executives, fans are currently focused on his next major project, The Adventures of Cliff Booth. Directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino, the film serves as a sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and is expected to hit Netflix and select theaters later this year.
Do you think Brad Pitt’s recent collaboration with David Fincher for the Cliff Booth sequel will finally earn him a second acting Oscar, or is his work in The Riders a more likely contender for next year’s awards circuit? Share your thoughts in the comments.