Brad Pitt Reached Newfound Success After An Actress Chose Him Instead Of George Clooney To Play An Important Role

Oct 04, 2023

There are few movie stars as universally recognized as Brad Pitt. The actor is best known for his leading roles in some of Hollywood's most iconic films. Even though the actor turned 59 in December 2022, Pitt continues to be a huge box-office draw. As he pushes 60, it's clear that Pitt has come a long way since he entered show business in the late 1980s.

Pitt's breakout role came in 1991 when he starred in the film "Thelma & Louise" as a charming drifter. This led to more leading roles in films such as "A River Runs Through It," "Legends of the Fall," and "Interview with the Vampire." 

In the late 1990s, Pitt became a household name, thanks to his leading roles in hit films such as "Seven," "Fight Club" and "Ocean's Eleven."

Regarding his personal life, the actor was previously married to Jennifer Aniston from 2000 until they got divorced in 2005. Later on, he married his longtime partner, Angelina Jolie, in 2014, but their marriage ended in 2019. Pitt and his second wife had six children together.

Pitt has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including a Golden Globe Award for his role in "12 Monkeys" and an Academy Award for his role in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." 

He has also been nominated for three other Academy Awards for his performances in "Moneyball," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," and "12 Years a Slave."

Since the actor is one of the most recognizable stars in the Hollywood industry, none of this would ever be possible without the help of a certain actress, who once chose him over legendary actor George Clooney, and he considered it as something that opened the door to endless opportunities.

Getting to where he is in the entertainment industry wasn’t easy for Brad Pitt. In fact, he opened up in an interview with Yahoo! Entertainment that he took “many odd jobs” before he became a famous actor.

During the conversation, the actor opened up about one of his works, which was a driver for strippers who needed to go to parties. 

In a separate interview, as compiled by Evan Carmichael on YouTube, the actor explained that his job was more than driving as he was tasked to play the music and catch the clothes of the strippers that he was working with.

He mentioned that the “young lady” he was driving that evening knew an actor, and at that time, it was his last day on the job. The stripper then told him that the undisclosed actor had told her to take acting classes, and Pitt was interested, so he got the number.

Fortunately, even though he decided to quit, his career was about to change for the better.

Pitt then worked with Roy London, whom he described as “such a lovely force in my life.”

The actor’s breakthrough role came in the movie “Thelma & Louise” but none of his success would happen without a key person, actress Geena Davis.

According to an article published by Vanity Fair in 2011, director Ridley Scott already had the main two actors cast for the roles of Thelma and Louise, and it was given to Davis and Susan Sarandon, respectively.

However, at the time, there was one more slot left as the character of J.D. still needed someone to portray him in the movie.

Scott initially had his eyes set on actor Billy Baldwin as his facial features matched the character’s description. 

Unfortunately, the film production had to be delayed as Baldwin decided to drop out of the role as he needed to work on the movie “Backdraft,” the same film where Pitt failed to get an acting job.

Even though the movie had problems, it was a great opportunity for Pitt as he had a chance to secure a role, but again, another actor got the role of J.D. before it opened up for the third time. He just needed to pass the audition first, along with three other actors: Grant Show, Mark Ruffalo, and George Clooney.

“I did fine with the first few guys, but the last one was so cute I kept messing up my lines… I kept saying, ‘I'm so sorry!’ But he's so chill,” Davis recalled of Pitt’s audition.

“Geena was incredibly disarming and playful as an actor. Rid was kind and to the point,” the actor said.

Pitt landed the role, which changed the trajectory of his career, and one of the reasons why he secured the part was because of Davis.

He continued crediting Davis as he said in an interview with the Associated Press, “My big one was Ridley Scott and Geena—Geena Davis, giving me a shot in ‘Thelma & Louise,’ that pretty much opened the door.”

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2011 during the Telluride Film Festival, Clooney jokingly expressed his thoughts as he mentioned that he was “still upset” that the role went to Pitt.

“He got it and I just couldn’t watch that movie for a couple of years,” he said, then when he finally watched it, he realized that Pitt was fitting for the role and it was “the right choice.”

What are your thoughts about Geena Davis’ decision to choose Brad Pitt for “Thelma & Louise”? Do you think he fits the role better than George Clooney? Let us know your insights, and make sure to pass this on to your friends and family.