Brad Pitt Opens up About the Actors He Admires Most in Hollywood

Brad Pitt once gave fans a rare look into who he truly admired in Hollywood, and his answers were far from obvious. In a 1996 interview with Tiger Beat, the actor talked openly about the performers who shaped his taste and his goals long before he became a global star.

When asked to name his favorite actress, Pitt skipped over the usual popular names of the time. Instead, he chose Dianne Wiest. He explained that real beauty on screen has nothing to do with being a s*x symbol. He said the strongest actors are often not labeled as beautiful at all, and he called Wiest the most beautiful woman on the screen because of her talent and presence.

Pitt also shared that he struggled to find male actors from his own generation that he truly looked up to back then. His admiration leaned toward classic stars who played men with strong values. One name stood out above the rest. He pointed to Robert Redford as a major influence, describing him as someone who showed what men want to be and what women want men to be.

That love for classic storytelling came from his childhood. Pitt told Tiger Beat that he grew up watching movies at drive-in theaters in Oklahoma and Missouri. He remembered lying on car hoods while Westerns played on giant screens.

Movies were never just entertainment to him. He believed stories helped people feel less alone and reminded everyone that even though we are all different, we are also the same.

Before fame arrived, Pitt’s life looked very different. He dropped out of the University of Missouri just a few credits short of earning a journalism degree. He talked about those early years with excitement, remembering small acting jobs and his first TV appearance on Another World. One of his proudest early moments was landing a McDonald’s commercial, which made his mother incredibly happy.

At only 22, Pitt already had big dreams. He named Jack Nicholson, Sean Penn, and Mickey Rourke as actors who completely inspired him. He also admired Kevin Costner, seeing him as the perfect example of someone who was both successful and respected. Pitt even said he hoped that by age 32, he would be a serious actor with his own production company.

Looking back now, that vision feels almost prophetic. As of February, Pitt is enjoying another major high point in his career. His racing film F1 has been a huge success and recently earned an AMPS award for sound design. The movie has stayed in the awards conversation all season.

Fans are also watching closely as he prepares for The Adventures of Cliff Booth. The film is directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino, and it continues the story from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. It is expected to arrive on Netflix and in select theaters later this year.

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