Brad Pitt argues the ‘greatest actors’ aren’t always ‘what you would call beautiful sex symbols’.
Despite having starred alongside other legendary actors, many of whom are widely considered as some of the best looking of our generation – Leonardo DiCaprio, Angelina Jolie and Julia Roberts to name a few – Pitt views looks as simply a ‘first impression’ and far from important when weighing up talent.
In an interview with Tiger Beat magazine in 1996, Pitt revealed there’s actually ‘very few men’ he ‘look[s] up to’ when it comes to his favorite actors in the industry.
He continued: “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.”
And despite appearance seemingly being a huge factor when it comes to Hollywood fame, Pitt believes that the greatest stars aren’t always people that would be referred to as ‘sex symbols’.
Brad Pitt with George Clooney (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Pitt explained: “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.”
Pitt added: “I’ll tell you who my favourite 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.”
The 76-year-old actor’s most notable roles include Edward Scissorhands and Footloose. More recently she appeared in 2020’s I Care a Lot and stars in Paramount+ crime thriller The Mayor of Kingstown.
Pitt is referring to none other than Dianne Wiest (Getty Images /Albert L. Ortega / Contributor)
Johnny Depp and Dianne Wiest in Edward Scissorhands (20th Century Fox)
After studying theatre at the University of Maryland, Wiest made her Broadway debut in 1971 with Robert Anderson’s Solitaire/Double Solitaire.
She went on to forge an incredibly successful career on stage, before also making it big in film.
She notably starred in Woody Allen flicks Hannah and Her Sisters and Bullets Over Broadway, the latter of which earned her an Academy Award.
Dianne also starred in 80s vampire flick The Lost Boys.
Wiest’s acting career has so far seen her receive four Primetime Emmy Awards for her roles in Road to Avonlea and In Treatment, alongside two nominations.
She’s received a Golden Globe Award and two Screen actors Guild Award awards.
Featured Image Credit: Gilbert Flores/Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
