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Brad Attitude He’s been called “The Next Big Thing,” “Hollywood’s Hottest Hunk,” and of course, “The Sexiest Guy In The World”…but how does this Missouri boy view all this hoopla? Check out the things that Brad holds near and dear. On his move to L.A. to become an actor: “It’s a cliché. Everyone has had to do silly little jobs. I remember when I first got to L.A., I read about Michael J. Fox and how he had to answer a pay phone because he didn’t have a phone of his own. I mean, everyone’s been through this. What’s interesting to me now is that a kid who had never been farther west than Witchita, Kansas, loaded up his car until he couldn’t even see behind him and drove to that crazy city. I remember going to the Grand Canyon. I took a photo of myself at the Grand Canyon, I was thrilled by the whole journey. Then I got into L.A., and there was so much smog, and I realized that I didn’t know anyone. And I was like, God, this is kinda depressing. So I got a Quarter Pounder with cheese and a large fries. And I got the newspaper and looked for work as an extra. The first couple of nights, I had to crash in the car.” On his sex symbol image: “Another sex symbol? How boring. That’s just what the world needs. Somebody who symbolizes sex.” On acting: “Acting’s what you make it: It can be limo rides and [phony stuff], or it can be this real exploration of yourself. That’s the reason I left Missouri and why acting fit. That’s a little grand, but I really believe that.” On happiness: “I think happiness is everyone’s priority in life whether they’re conscious of it or not. There’s just people out there who get hung up on it. I’ve found that the bad times are more important because they kick your butt. I guess it’s more about understanding that happiness. And what’s really sad is that it seems to me that a lot of what a person thinks of himself, unfortunately. Comes from what other people think. I think that’s why so many actors get whacked out.” On being considered too intense: “At times I can get manic, but I definitely have to relax. Relax is my favorite word. It’s my dog Deacon’s command to sit.” On his age: “I’d prefer not to have my age printed, It’s not a vanity thing. I just don’t think people should know certain things because it’ll go against my characters.” On his growing up years: “Growing up I was like an insider—inside of everything, like the cool stuff at school—but always looking out. Because it wasn’t quite enough or something. Insider looking out—that’s perfect. That sums it all up.” On Tom Cruise, his co-star in Interview with the Vampire: “I like the guy, I honestly like the guy. But at a point I started really resenting him. In retrospect I realize that was completely because of who our characters were. I realize that it was my problem. People take everything so seriously. It’s a movie and it’s done.” On River Phoenix death: “I knew River a little, but I wanted to know him more. His death affected everyone on the movie [River was to have the Christian Slater role in Interview with the Vampire], but at the same time it was real personal. You gotta realize, River did a role in My Own Private Idaho that took it to a level that none of these other young guys have gotten to yet. I was really looking forward to him being on the set. It just seems like when we lost him, we all lost something special.” On being compared to legendary actor James Dean: “I don’t know why you’d want to pattern your life after someone who’s not a survivor.” On his personal role models: “I know very few men to look up to…That’s why I appreciate the older films, because they show a man standing up for his principles. Like [Robert] Redford. He portrayed the kind of man men wanted to be and the kind of man women wanted men to be.” On beauty: “When you see a person, do you just concentrate on their looks? It’s just a first impression. Then there’s someone who doesn’t catch your eye immediately, but you talk to them and they become the most beautiful thing in the world. The greatest actors aren’t what you would call beautiful sex symbols. I’ll tell you who my favorite actress is—Dianne Wiest—and you wouldn’t call her a sex symbol. Dianne Wiest is, to me, the most beautiful woman on the screen.” One On One With Brad Pitt When Brad appeared on the scene as the young hunk on Dallas, he was being called the “next big sex symbol”—a label he was uncomfortable with even back then. Indeed, Brad was a very down-to-earth young guy, who was thrilled at his big break. Back then, the 22-year-old was very talkative and open about his personal and professional life—and we have him on tape! Tell us about your character on Dallas. BRAD PITT: He is Shalane McCall’s boyfriend, Charles. I am 16 or 17 on the show and Shalane is 15. Basically we are just dating, but I keep getting into trouble with her parents. The first time they meet me is when they come home from their honeymoon and they catch us mashing (kissing) on the stairway. We think they are still away. How did you get the role on Dallas? BRAD: I auditioned for a new character on the series Our House and they said, “While you’re here, read for this.” So I went next door and read for the producer of Dallas and bingo! When did you decided to become an actor? BRAD: I was in college—I was studying advertising and graphic design at the university of Missouri. I told my parents I was going to California to go to art school. I didn’t tell them I wanted to act. I always wanted to give this a try on my own. When I got out here, I started to check things out and I never made it to art school. Where did you live when you first got out to California? BRAD: I knew this girl from home whose dad had a place out here. There was just a housekeeper living in it, so I got to say there free for a month. Then I got some guys—there were eight of us living in this little apartment in North Hollywood. It was a blast. We had no furniture—we all slept on the floor in the front room. We had a TV, a toaster oven and a stereo. What more does a guy need? We were all short on girlfriends and money! What did you do to earn money? BRAD: Any odd job I could get. There is a place called the Job Factory and every week they list all of these odd jobs. Those jobs kept me in Captain Crunch and peanut butter and jelly. It finally got so bad that my buddy and I said let’s see who can get the most humiliating job. I won! I got a job with a restaurant called El Pollo Loco. I dressed up as a chicken, stood out on the corner of Sunset in one hundred degree weather and flapped my wings for the Grand Opening. They liked me so much, they asked me back! Your first acting job! BRAD: Right! What next? BRAD: I did a few weeks on Another World. I had to go to New York for that and I had never been there. Then I got Dallas and in between filming those I did a Growing Pains episode. I did a Mountain Dew commercial—got to waterski in Florida. And I just got a McDonald’s commercial today! My mom is so proud! How long have you been in L.A.? BRAD: A little over a year. I was a dork when I got out here. I didn’t even know I had to have pictures! What kind of kid were you? BRAD: A dork! I don’t know. I was pretty good at everything, but not great at anything. My grades were pretty good. I was involved in every school thing, every sport. Tell us about your parents. BRAD: My mom, Jane, is a housewife; she likes to paint. My dad’s name is Bill and we have a dog—a mutt—named Quiche Lorraine. I have a younger brother and a younger sister, Doug and Julie—we call Doug, Digger, and Julie, Jules. What is the best part of your personality? BRAD: I don’t know? Since I have come out here, I have really been a loner, investing all my money and time in making it. It’s so important to me, I really don’t go out that much—just with my buddies and we’ll go catch a flick. I can have just as much fun by myself. I read, write, listen to tunes. Who is your favorite actor? BRAD: Jack Nicholson is up there. I love Mickey Rourke—he blows my mind. I love Sean Penn, even with the bad press he gets. When he is on the screen, I admire him. I like Timothy Hutton, too. I have never really gotten into the classics, which I have been trying to learn about lately. Marlon Brando blows me away. The minute he came on the screen in Streetcar Named Desire, wooooo! Okay, here’s the dreaded question—what do you look for in a girl? BRAD: One minute I think I know what I want and then I find something totally different. It’s hard to put a label on it. I do fall for dark haired and dark eyed girls. But looks are not everything—I have met so many beautiful girls out here, but because of their personalities, they were no so beautiful anymore. Then I met girls, I would not be attracted to right off but because of their personalities—wooooo! I guess you can say the standard is a sense of humor. What’s your favorite food? BRAD: Shakey’s smorgesboard—at $3.49 it’s a heck of a deal. All the salad and pizza you can eat. And cinnamon rolls. My favorite meal, really. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? BRAD: In ten years I’ll be 32. I hope I am married with some Brad Jrs. I would like to be in a position like Kevin Costner. He’s on top and respected as an actor. I just want to be a respected actor. I want to make people feel things like how I feel when I go to the movies. I would like to have my own production company. |
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