by Brad Pitt is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated actors of our time. With his rugged good looks, innate talent, and charismatic charm, he has captivated audiences for over three decades in films like Fight Club, Ocean’s Eleven, Inglourious Basterds, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. However, despite the glitz and glamour of Hollywood fame, Pitt remains remarkably down-to-earth and introspective.
In a revealing interview, Pitt opened up about how profoundly affected he was by his experience acting in the poignant film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. In the movie, Pitt plays Benjamin Button, a man afflicted with a rare genetic condition where he ages in reverse. Born with the appearance and maladies of an elderly man, Benjamin gets younger as time passes, while his loved ones grow older.
Pitt explained how the film resonated deep within his soul and made him truly ponder the meaning of his own life for the first time. Read on for highlights of Pitt’s insights about how Benjamin Button profoundly shaped his perspective.
The Role That Felt Like Destiny
Pitt shared that when the script for Benjamin Button first came his way, he felt an instant visceral connection. “I don’t know how to explain it, but I just knew deep down that I had to play this role,” he revealed. Pitt said he was moved by the concept of a man aging backwards while also gripped by the universal human themes explored in the story.
“Benjamin experiences life out of order, but learns many of the same lessons we all do about love, loss, regret, and what it means to be human. It really resonated with me for reasons I couldn’t fully grasp at the time,” Pitt said. The actor was so certain about taking on the weighty role that he agreed to it before even reading the script. His intuition proved right – Pitt earned an Academy Award nomination for his poignant performance.
Confronting Mortality
For Pitt, portraying Benjamin meant undergoing staggering physical transformations with advanced makeup and prosthetics over months of filming. The intense process forced Pitt to confront his own mortality in ways he never had before.
“On set each day, I’d look in the mirror and see myself age decades right before my eyes. I looked into the face of a 100-year-old version of myself. When you see yourself like that, you can’t help but reflect on life in new ways,” Pitt shared.
The actor pondered weighty topics like how quickly life passes by and what really matters most at the end. “It got me thinking, ‘Wow, we really just have a short blip of time here.’ It made me want to make the absolute most of the years I have and be more intentional about it,” Pitt said.
Gaining Perspective on His Youth
Playing Benjamin also gave Pitt fresh perspective on his own youth. Spending hours in heavy aging makeup and prosthetics meant that Pitt could only eat through a tube. The discomfort brought back memories of being a scrawny, hungry teenager.
“It reminded me of being young and always feeling gangly and awkward,” Pitt shared. “When you’re young, you have this baby fat you want to shed, and you wish you were older fast. This role made me appreciate the vitality and beauty of youth in new ways.”
Pitt said the role taught him not to wish away the precious years of his life. “We spend so much time wanting to get to the next phase and then regretting how fast time has gone by. Benjamin Button helped me be more present at each stage and enjoy where I’m at instead of always wanting more,” he reflected.
Valuing Loved Ones
Portraying Benjamin also reminded Pitt not to take his loved ones for granted. In the film, Benjamin falls in love with Daisy, a dancer who is his age when they first meet as young adults. However, as Benjamin ages in reverse, Daisy continues to grow older over the decades.
“It really hit me how you can take people you love for granted and miss out on the chance to fully appreciate them,” Pitt said. The actor related how the film made him recognize that time spent with family and friends is fleeting and precious.
“After filming, I had this strong urge to connect more with the people close to me. I realized tomorrow isn’t promised, and I needed to value each moment,” Pitt shared. He said it impacted how present he strived to be with his partner Angelina Jolie and their children after work each day.
Grappling with Regret
Benjamin also poignantly deals with regret over roads not taken as he ages. Pitt said those themes really resonated within his own life and choices.
“Like Benjamin, I’ve had forks in the road where I went one way, and I can’t help looking back and wondering ‘What if?’ about the other direction,” he shared. “The film made me really think about the way our past shapes us, but also how we can get stuck dwelling on it.”
Pitt said the role taught him the importance of self-forgiveness and being at peace with the past. “Regret can eat away at you, but in the end you have to accept the turns your life has taken and make the best of where you’re at now,” he reflected.
Contemplating the End
One of the most emotional aspects of the film for Pitt was portraying Benjamin at the very end of life as a physically regressed child who struggles to communicate. He called the challenging scenes metaphors for the human condition.
“It’s painful watching Benjamin lose his faculties and voice just like we all do in old age. But there’s also beauty in how people still showed him love and cared for him as a child again,” Pitt said.
He found the final scenes deeply thought-provoking about mortality. “It leaves you wondering – when all else is stripped away at the end, what remains? I think it’s the connections you make with others that give life meaning.”
Pitt said he was moved by the message that how we treat people matters most of all. “In the final analysis, kindness might be the only thing that stays with you. Benjamin Button definitely challenged me to live that way.”
A Profound Turning Point
Overall, Pitt said making The Curious Case of Benjamin Button marked a pivotal introspective chapter in his life that left an indelible mark on his soul.
“It was a really important film experience for me that came at the perfect time. I was in my 40s and transitioning into a new stage. The movie made me step back and reexamine everything in a profound way,” he shared.
Pitt said Benjamin Button gave him perspective that changed his approach to life, family, and his career. “It was the start of a shift where I slowed down and became more focused on deeper personal fulfillment.” Pitt also said the film made him feel more comfortable in his skin.
“We spend so much energy trying to fight getting older. But Benjamin embraces it with wonder and awe. It made me make peace with the aging process and see the beauty in maturity,” Pitt reflected.
The esteemed actor said he will forever remain grateful that this philosophical film came into his life when he needed it most. “It shaped me in ways I’m still trying to comprehend. It was a real gift.”
Pitt’s story shows that a meaningful film can profoundly move even one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button clearly struck a deep chord that resonated with Pitt’s soul and inspired introspection about his purpose. It just goes to show that great art can touch anyone’s heart and spirit.
The film clearly left as much of a lasting imprint on Pitt as he did on the unforgettable character of Benjamin Button. It served as a powerful mirror for self-reflection and growth during a transitional crossroads in his life. His willingness to be so raw and vulnerable about how the film changed him is a testament to his authenticity and humility.
Pitt’s earnest words are a reminder that we all have turning points in our lives that transform us from the inside out. We never know when a book, film, or encounter will shake us to our core and compel us to live more meaningful lives. Benjamin Button had that magic for Pitt during a pivotal existential crisis about his mortality, legacy, and what matters most in life.
If you haven’t seen this modern masterpiece, watch it with new eyes now through the lens of Pitt’s resonant words. Let Benjamin Button inspire you too to make the absolute most of your precious time on earth. Pitt’s profound experience with the film serves as inspiration to see our fleeting lives through fresh eyes, connect more deeply with loved ones, and live without regrets.
