Brad Pitt recently revealed an amusing mishap from one of his early film roles during a July 2 episode of the New Heights podcast. The 61-year-old actor described a moment when his commitment to method acting unexpectedly backfired while filming a scene involving multiple plates of beans.
Immersing Fully into His Character’s Hunger
On the podcast, Pitt explained that his character had not eaten for days and was meant to consume a large plate of beans and bacon. Determined to bring authenticity to the role, he insisted on finishing every bite during multiple takes.
“We’re shooting in this little tiny cafe. It’s full of the crew, so there’s about 60 people in there. It’s hot. You can’t breathe,”
Pitt said, setting the scene. He continued,
“My character hadn’t eaten for days, and he gets his big plate of beans, first plate of beans and bacon. And I was all like, Method, you know? I was like, yeah, I’m going to do this right. I just powered down this plate of beans. Take two, do the same thing. Take three, I do the same thing. On four, I do the same thing.”
The Unexpected Result of Extreme Method Acting
Pitt recounted what happened during the fourth take, a moment that sparked laughter from podcast hosts Travis and Jason Kelce.
“I was stuck in this chair and nature took its course,”
he described.
“Then there was nothing. I went, oh, great. I got away with that one. And then suddenly the entire crew… The most diabolical something… Something descended on the crew in the whole room and they fled the cafe.”
Lessons for Aspiring Actors
Beyond the humorous story, Brad Pitt offered advice to younger actors, focusing on dedication rather than the pitfalls of eating on set. His anecdote highlights the unexpected challenges that can arise from fully immersing oneself in a role and the unpredictable nature of live filming environments.
