“Uncovering Brad Pitt’s Rise to Fame: From Penniless Actor to Hollywood Icon”

Charmer, great seducer, womanizer, the sexiest actor in Hollywood had several assets in his game, even if he was penniless when he landed in Hollywood. In addition to his undeniable sex appeal, Brad Pitt was able to develop his acting talent to finally land roles in fifty films, in addition to becoming a producer to finally rise to the top of glory. This is what we learn in a biography of the actor signed Frédéric Mitterrand.

• Read also: Angelina Jolie and her son Maddox received by President Joe Biden

• Read also: Brad Pitt sells his Hollywood home for US$39 million

The author immediately admits not knowing Brad Pitt, but being a very big fan of the actor. Without having succeeded in obtaining an interview with the main interested party, Frédéric Mitterrand, who was Minister of Culture of France, claims to have interviewed several people from the entourage of the sex symbol, without however naming his sources.

If the author admires the actor so much, it is mainly for his ambition combined with great determination. It is clear that the popularity of the actor remains despite the passing years and despite a few missteps.

Poverty and ambition

It is with only $300 in his pocket that Brad will leave the family nest to start his career in Hollywood even if he does not know anyone there.

Born in 1963, Brad grew up in Springfield, Missouri in a devout middle-class family. He was even a child at heart in a Baptist church.

Passionate about architecture, he will begin studies in the field after high school, but will give up to turn to journalism and advertising. Then, seeing movies in drive-ins with Robert Redford and Paul Newman, he will have a revelation. He wants to become an actor. He will definitely leave his studies to turn to drama lessons. But the beginnings will not be easy. To survive, he will have to accept a host of odd jobs, as a driver and handyman for strippers, a mover and he has even been the mascot of a restaurant by wearing a chicken costume on the sidewalk. If he was sometimes humiliated, he was never discouraged.

He will go on to audition and land a few small roles for several years before getting noticed. It was only in 1991, four years after his debut, that he began to talk about the film. Thelma et Louise.

Then, he will combine the roles. He will become one of the biggest stars of his generation. Among his notable films are, Interview with a Vampire, Legends of the Fall, Army of the Twelve Monkeys, Sleepers, Seven Years in Tibet, Meet Joe Black, Fight Club, The Mexican, Spy Game Ocean’s Eleven, Mr and Mrs. Smith et Babel where he plays Cate Blanchett’s husband. Then, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood where he shares the poster with Leonardo DiCaprio who will earn him an Oscar.

In total, the films in which the actor starred brought in more than six billion US dollars at the box office.

Today, the 59-year-old actor and accomplished producer earns an average of US$20 million per film, making him one of the highest-earning actors in the world.

His circle of friends is impressive and he has played with the greatest actors, we think of George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Anthony Hopkins, Bruce Willis, Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts , Cate Blanchett, Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz, Penélope Cruz and Sandra Bullock to name a few.

Depressive and violent

Despite all the virtues mentioned in his biography, we also recognize that Brad is not perfect. His ex-wife Angelina Jolie accused him of abusing four of their children, in addition to some form of domestic violence. This is what would have pushed him to file for divorce in 2016, a divorce which will be pronounced three years later. A colossal sum was spent on this divorce.

In addition, we learn that Brad was an alcoholic for 25 years, another source of conflict with the beautiful Angelina. In addition to alcohol, Brad suffers from repeated severe depressions. Added to this is prosopagnosia. This is an illness that makes it difficult for him to recognize the very faces of those he knows quite well. This pathology unfortunately gave him a haughty air from those who were unaware of his illness.

Many amorous conquests

In his book, the author scrolls through Brad’s many love stories, including the one with Angelina Jolie he met during the filming of the film. Mr et Mrs. Smith released in 2005 which formed a couple on the big screen. At the time, he was already married to Jennifer Aniston. By the way, this movie was one of the biggest box office hits that year. The author does not seem to appreciate Angelina Jolie going so far as to say that she drove him crazy. They nevertheless had 12 years together, including two as husband and wife. They had six children, four of whom were adopted. Together they had twins.

Since his highly publicized separation, Brad has multiplied romantic relationships. The most recent in the running would be Ines de Ramon, thirty years her junior.

The actor whose fortune is now estimated at 420 million US dollars, according to Forbes magazine, has several residences. He sold his Hollywood residence last March for 39 million US dollars. He owns the Château de Miraval in the Var in France, a 600 hectare estate where there is an olive grove and a wine estate. He also has a villa in Italy near Lake Garda, a residence in Malibu as well as one in Dubai, among other properties.

Brad Pitt is very committed on the humanitarian level, offering on more than one occasion a donation of one million dollars to Doctors Without Borders.

_______________

Brad Pitt has been nominated and awarded numerous times throughout his career. Among the most important honors are:

– In 2009, Golden Globe for best actor in a dramatic film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

– In 2012, Golden Globe for best actor in a dramatic film, The Strategist.

– In 2014, Oscar for best film for Slave for twelve years.

– In 2020, Oscar for best actor in a supporting role for, Once upon a time in… Hollywood

– In 1995 and 2020, he was voted The Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine. ___________________________________________________________________

BRAD

Frederic Mitterrand

XO Editions

328 pages

_______________________________