‘MY KIDS COLOUR EVERYTHING I DO'

IN THE WEEK BRAD PITT CELEBRATES HIS 57TH BIRTHDAY WE LOOK BACK AT THE CAREER AND LOVE LIFE OF ONE OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST FILM STARS

- SUZANNE BAUM 

The mere mention of his name is enough to make fans across the world giddy with excitement. And although Brad Pitt may be heading closer to his sixth decade, he still remains one of Hollywood’s biggest heartthrobs.

Brad was born William Bradley Pitt on 18 December, 1963, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He was the eldest of three children who grew up in a devoutly Southern Baptist family. His father, Bill, owned a trucking company and his mother, Jane, was a family counsellor. Brad originally had aspirations of working in the media and studied journalism at the University of Missouri, before dropping out when he discovered a love of acting.

On moving to California, Brad took odd jobs to support himself, joined an acting class and found an agent. He soon landed TV work, including a part in Dallas in 1987.

His movie career took off in 1991 with Thelma & Louise, followed by 1992’s A River Runs Through It and 1994’s Interview With A Vampire. But it was playing a romantic hero in the epic family drama Legends Of The Fall that really put him on the map and earnt him his first Golden Globe nomination.