When you know that you are about to interview someone as mind-bogglingly famous as Brad Pitt, you try to stay cool. You remind yourself that, really, this man is just a good guy from the American Midwest armed with a charming smile – and a phenomenal career in the film industry. After all, he’s got to be just like the rest of us: human. But the minute I shake his hand that internal voice starts screaming, reminding me that this is him: Brad Pitt. A megastar since Thelma And Louise 18 years ago, winner of countless acting accolades and now the lead in Quentin Tarantino’s long-awaited war film, Inglourious Basterds. So what do I do? Try and pretend that this really is just a bearded guy in a white T-shirt and baggy beige pants. So, here goes…
I’m curious – what got you interested in Tarantino’s new project?
This one came with a build-up of mythic proportions. There were rumours that he’d been sitting on this idea for eight years. People wondered: would he ever get to make it? Rumours were spreading that he wanted to make a WWII spaghetti Western. Then I got word this summer: he was going to get in touch with me because he was almost finished with the script and wanted to start shooting immediately. After that it was just one of those times when you read a script and there’s nothing you want to change.
Read more/discuss. Thanks Gabriella.