In a heart-to-heart conversation between Hollywood heavyweights Brad Pitt, 55, and Anthony Hopkins, 81, the duo opened up about the challenges that come with living life in the spotlight. Despite the perception that celebrities lead lives filled with glamour and luxury, Pitt revealed that he has faced many personal struggles over the years, particularly with alcohol addiction.
During their candid discussion, Hopkins broached the topic of Pitt’s battle with alcoholism. The younger actor confessed that he had indeed struggled with addiction but ultimately found valuable life lessons in overcoming it.
Pitt acknowledged that alcohol had become his “escape,” and like many actors, he had to deal with the pressures that come with constantly being in the public eye. Even as a long-time A-list celebrity, Pitt is not immune to the stresses of Hollywood.
“Well, I just saw it as a disservice to myself, as an escape,” Pitt said, reflecting on his reliance on alcohol.
Hopkins, who previously worked with Pitt on films like Meet Joe Black and Legends of the Fall, asked if drinking had become “necessary” during Pitt’s lowest moments. Pitt candidly responded, “To some degree, yes.”
When the two actors worked together on Meet Joe Black, Hopkins shared his own experiences with alcohol abuse, emphasizing the importance of “embracing all your mistakes.” Pitt believes that there’s beauty in forgiving oneself, and it’s the actions taken after making a mistake that truly define a person.
“I’m seeing that these days. I think we’re living in a time where we’re extremely judgmental and quick to treat people as disposable. We’ve always placed great importance on the mistake. But the next move, what you do after the mistake, is what really defines a person. We’re all going to make mistakes. But what is that next step?” Pitt said.
Pitt feels that as a society, we tend to overlook how people respond to their mistakes. He finds the journey of redemption far more fascinating and invigorating.
In addition to discussing his battle with alcohol, Pitt also shared his admiration for architect Frank Gehry. Despite Gehry’s advancing age, the two still make time to meet and converse. Pitt is inspired by Gehry’s unwavering creativity and the sense of purpose it brings to his life.
“He just turned ninety this last year and is as creative as ever, creating some of the great buildings of our time. And it makes me think, ‘We’re human, we want purpose. We want meaning in our lives.’ But to attain that, the key is two things: Staying creative and being with the people we love.”
As for Hopkins, he admitted that he’s not much of a movie-goer these days, with one notable exception: “I’m not a great fan of going to movies anymore. Except, for example, I went to see Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
Source: AWM