Brad Pitt Discusses Navigating 'Darker Days' Amidst Angelina Jolie Divorce

Actor Brad Pitt has spoken about overcoming difficult periods in his life, which he described as 'darker days' involving 'losses and pain,' in the wake of his prolonged divorce from Angelina Jolie.

Pitt, 62, detailed his coping mechanisms during these challenging times while promoting his latest film, "Heart of the Beast." In the movie, he portrays a retired Special Forces officer who must fight for survival in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash.

Working with survival experts on the film provided Pitt with a new perspective on his own past struggles. "When I think of the darker days, it was certainly my close relationships that I relied heavily on," Pitt stated, according to The Sun. "Friends, dear close friends, a handful of close family, and was very open about my struggle."

He emphasized the importance of these connections, adding, "And being able to be that free with people who love you and have your back, and that you love back, is everything. It's everything."

Pitt drew a parallel between the survivalists' advice and his own life experiences. "The survivalists would tell us it's all about little wins," he explained. "You're going to suffer losses, you're going to suffer pain, but it's just getting to the next little win. I thought that equated to life in that way, in the sense of when we are struggling and going through many challenges, just getting to that next little win, not thinking about the big picture, just that next little win."

Friends of Pitt's have previously indicated that his marriage to Jolie contributed to a period of turmoil in his life. An exclusive Daily Mail report cited sources close to the actor who described his marriage as the "worst thing that ever happened to him," claiming it sent his life "spiraling."

Pitt and Jolie initially split in September 2016, after two years of marriage. Their divorce proceedings, however, were not finalized until 2024, following an eight-year legal battle.

Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie, 51, has expressed her readiness to embrace a more nomadic lifestyle now that her youngest children have reached adulthood. In a September interview with L'Officiel USA, she mentioned plans to spend more time outside the United States and to not have a fixed base, while maintaining a home for family memories.

Jolie is no longer bound by custody agreement stipulations that required her minor children to remain in proximity to Pitt while they were underage. All six of their children are now adults. Reports indicate that four of them, Maddox (25), Zahara (21), Shiloh (20), and Vivienne, have taken steps to change their surname from Pitt to Jolie. Knox and Pax (22) have not formally filed name change petitions.

While Pitt has been seen publicly with his girlfriend of nearly four years, Ines de Ramon, Jolie is focused on the global expansion of her creative enterprise, Atelier Jolie.