by In a bombshell new interview, Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt has made a startling confession about one of his most iconic roles – Lt. Aldo Raine in Quentin Tarantino’s 2009 film Inglourious Basterds. Speaking candidly to Esquire magazine, Pitt admitted that despite Raine’s swagger and bravado, he actually “never felt cool” while playing the character on set.
“The truth is, I never felt cool as Aldo Raine,” Pitt revealed. “That character…he’s very damaged, very intense. And me, I couldn’t find the cool in that kind of darkness. No matter how hard I tried, I just never felt cool playing Lt. Raine.”
Pitt’s stunning admission comes as a shock to fans who have long considered his portrayal of Raine to be the epitome of cool. With his throat-slitting skills, dangly cigarette, and Tennessee drawl, Raine seemed to ooze effortless charisma and confidence. But according to Pitt, that was all an act.
“When I took the role, I thought the character seemed cool on paper,” he explained. “But when I actually had to become this man – this angry, driven, ruthless Nazi-hunter – I realized there was nothing cool about him. He’s very dark, very tortured…not at all cool.”
Pitt went on to describe the isolating and “very difficult” experience of playing such a damaged character. He said that he often felt “lost” and “confused” on set, struggling to tap into Raine’s obsession with brutally murdering Nazis.
“There were days where I just couldn’t relate to the guy at all,” Pitt confessed. “I didn’t understand his motivation or his rage. Other times, I’d get too deep into his headspace and I’d have to take a break because it was just too creepy and unsettling.”
According to Pitt, the most challenging part of playing Raine was trying to find the humanity buried deep beneath the character’s violent exterior. He labored to bring subtle traces of vulnerability and empathy to Raine, hinting at the trauma and heartbreak that had turned him into such a ruthless Nazi hunter. But Pitt admitted these moments were few and far between.
“For the most part, Aldo Raine is just a cold-blooded killer. And that was so draining and disturbing to inhabit for months on end,” he said. “It definitely took a toll on me.”
In spite of the difficulties playing Raine, Pitt acknowledged that those struggles added depth and nuance to his performance. He also made it clear he is extremely grateful to have been part of such a landmark film.
“I’m so proud to have worked with Quentin [Tarantino] and to have been a part of Inglourious Basterds,” Pitt stated. “It’s an amazing film and I think we did something really special. But I’ll never forget how difficult and un-cool it felt in the moment to play that character.”
Indeed, Pitt’s raw and rugged performance garnered widespread acclaim and ranks among his most memorable roles to date. His anguished, uncompromising take on Aldo Raine earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
But it seems that behind all the critical praise and on-screen machismo, Pitt struggled deeply in embodying the unshakable Nazi hunter. It just goes to show that even the coolest characters are, in reality, vulnerable human beings like the rest of us.
So while audiences may remember the swagger and audacity of Lt. Aldo Raine, Brad Pitt recalls those days on set very differently. Behind the scenes, there was no glamor or glory. Only grueling days spent inhabiting the skin of a man he could barely understand.
“It was one of the most demanding roles I’ve ever taken on,” Pitt concluded. “I’m honored to have been Aldo Raine, but the truth is I never really felt like a ‘cool guy’ while playing him. It was too painful and challenging of a road to go down.”
Pitt’s candid revelations about the gritty reality behind his portrayal of the notoriously ruthless Raine shows that even Hollywood superstars struggle with dark, complex characters. Beneath the showmanship and bravado, Pitt clearly grappled with the same self-doubt and difficulty as any artist.
Ultimately, it was that shared vulnerability and humanity that allowed Pitt to turn in such a searing, unforgettable performance. By bravely opening up about the un-cool truth of playing Lt. Aldo Raine, Brad Pitt has given us an invaluable look behind the curtain at an iconic character. It just goes to prove that real art comes from shared struggle, not effortless cool.
