Interview with Brad Pitt for the Oscar nominated Benjamin Button
Brad Pitt reunites with director David Fincher (Fight Club, Se7en) for their latest flick “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” – with the typical dark streak and sombre tone we’ve come to expect from their collaborations, the pair take us the curious life of Benjamin Button – a man aging in reverse. Nominated for 13 Oscars, Button hits Irish cinemas today – here the Pitt talks about his girlfriend Angelina Jolie, their six children – and how the film changed the way he looks at life…
Q: Benjamin Button has been creating a big buzz. Why do you think that is?
A: “I think because it deals with those things that unite us all – our loves and our losses and the fact that it’s all impermanent. We’re all just pictures in a photograph at the end and even those get destroyed so… But it’s a lovely film. I’m very happy about it.”
Q:How was it seeing yourself aged in this movie?
A: “I was fine with it. Obviously this is a strange twist on the aging process but it was fun to do.”
Q: So getting older doesn’t bother you?
A: “No. I’m interested in old age. I feel like I’ve earned it actually (laughs). I don’t mind aging.”
Q: Do you think there is less pressure on men to stay looking young compared to women in Hollywood?
A: “I guess there is and it’s not necessary. I don’t think anyone should feel under pressure to not age gracefully.”
Q: Do you think having kids keeps you young?
A: “No. It wears you out. Are you kidding (laughs)? I’m aging fast but it’s worth every second.”
Q: Is it true that your daughter Shiloh has a secret cameo in this movie?
A: “It is. She is in one scene. Babies can be difficult because they are in a scene and they can be crying so we made an emergency call and she came down for one scene to help us out.”
Q: Are you surprised at the level of interest there is in your family?
A: “Well, I think we are an interesting family. It’s not your usual family. I’m quite interested in my family actually (laughs). I don’t see it as anything less than a compliment. I’m really proud of this family. I look at my sons and my daughters, one’s from Vietnam, one’s from Cambodia, one’s from Ethopia. Then there’s this kid who was born in Namibia and they’re all playing like brothers and sisters. They’re fighting, they’re laughing, they’re staying up late and they’re messing with their parents and driving me crazy but I feel rich. I truly feel rich being around them. It’s a rich home and each one of them offers so much to the mix. Surprisingly though six kids is not as easy as you might think (laughs).”
Q: You shot some incredible pictures of Angelina breastfeeding for a magazine spread recently. What made you decide to do that?
A: “I just wanted to capture a side of Angie that’s so warm and big and that you rarely get to see with all the celebrity stuff. She does that really well too though (laughs).”
Q: Does taking pictures like that make you any more comfortable with the paparazzi?
A: “No. Let me be very blunt: I hate them. I hate these people. I don’t understand why they do that for a living. We have got to make a distinction between people who photograph celebrities at events and people who climb over your walls wearing camouflage, calling out your kids’ names as you’re trying to take them to school so they’ll look the right way. I have no respect for these people. I do not like them. I don’t understand how they can live that way. There should be laws against it. They shouldn’t be able to follow kids like this.”
Q: You’re obviously a very private person but yet you flirt publicity at times. How do you balance the two?
A: “Well, it’s like the pictures we did. Ange and I talked a lot aboutthat. With the pictures of the kids, there’s a bounty on our heads and these pictures are going to come out at some point. They’re going to be chasing us and going to the ends for the Earth to get these photos. We just thought because there is such a bounty we could take that money and funnel it to something good. It’s still a bit uncomfortable to do that kind of thing but that’s what we decided to do.”
Q: Finally, what are your thoughts on President Obama?
A: “Oh man. I think over night we have redefined what America is all about. I couldn’t be any happier and more hopeful for the upcoming years.”
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is now showing at Irish cinemas everywhere