Hollywood actor Brad Pitt has disclosed that he returned to drinking after maintaining sobriety for seven years, while stressing that he now takes a more controlled approach to alcohol consumption.
Pitt made the revelation during a wide-ranging interview with Esquire, where he reflected on his history with alcohol and the personal challenges he has faced in recent years.
The Oscar-winning actor said he remained sober for seven years before eventually returning to alcohol. However, he explained that his current approach is significantly more restrained than in the past.
Pitt admitted that he became overconfident about his ability to control his drinking on a few occasions and quickly realised that consuming large quantities of alcohol was still harmful to him.
According to the actor, he can now drink a few glasses of wine but must remain disciplined about the amount he consumes.
“I have to be professional about it,” Pitt said, stressing the importance of maintaining control.
The actor had previously spoken about his journey to sobriety, including the role Bradley Cooper played in helping him during a difficult period following his separation from Angelina Jolie.
Pitt also spent more than a year attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings as part of his efforts to address his relationship with alcohol.
During the Esquire interview, the Bullet Train star also discussed a particularly difficult period in his life involving what he described as “family stuff.”
Pitt said suicide was not generally something he considered, but acknowledged that his emotional suffering became so intense at one point that he understood how a person could begin viewing death as a form of relief.
He made clear, however, that he never intended to act on such thoughts, explaining that his instinct for survival ultimately prevailed.
When asked whether the difficult period was connected to his children, Pitt chose not to elaborate.
“Family stuff. We could leave it at that,” he said.
Reflecting on the difficulties he has experienced despite his enormous success in Hollywood, Pitt acknowledged that life has not always been easy.
“This s*** ain’t easy,” the actor said, while noting that he considers himself fortunate to have experienced what he described as essentially “winning the lottery.”
Pitt’s comments offer a rare glimpse into his personal struggles, including his experience with alcohol, sobriety and the emotional challenges that accompanied a difficult period in his family life.
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