Actor Brad Pitt has disclosed that he experienced suicidal thoughts during a challenging period marked by his estrangement from his children with ex-wife Angelina Jolie. In a rare interview with Esquire UK, Pitt, 62, described the pain as "oppressive" and acknowledged struggling to see a way out during this time.

"I was never suicidal in any way," Pitt stated, clarifying his mindset. "It just was not my makeup. In fact, if I have any afflictions, it’s probably being a congenital optimist."

However, he elaborated on a specific period: "I’ve never been suicidal except for one little period. And in that one little period, I just thought – I just couldn’t – just didn’t see a way out. The pain was so oppressive that – I wasn’t going to act on this, but I could feel – I could feel the cold steel of the bullet in my head, and it felt like relief."

Pitt explained that he came to understand suicide as a search for relief from overwhelming pain. He noted that survival instincts quickly kicked in, emphasizing the difficulty of the situation, even for someone who has experienced significant success.

When asked by the interviewer, Pitt confirmed that the "family stuff" was the source of this distress.

The actor also spoke about the profound sense of loss he experienced following the death of his mother, Jane, a year ago. He described grief as leaving a "gaping hole" but also "profound beauty."

Pitt and Jolie, once a prominent Hollywood couple, officially divorced in 2024 after an eight-year legal battle that began following a 2016 incident on a private plane and subsequent abuse allegations, which Pitt has denied. The Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services cleared him of physical abuse allegations, and he has never been charged with a crime.

The protracted legal dispute has involved ongoing filings between the former couple, including Pitt's 2022 lawsuit against Jolie for selling her stake in their jointly owned Chateau Miraval estate.

Recent developments indicate a continued distancing of their children from Pitt. Last month, their daughter Vivienne, 18, filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court to drop "Pitt" from her surname, following similar actions by three of her older siblings. The reason cited in court documents was "personal."

Vivienne's petition follows similar moves by her older siblings Zahara and Maddox, who have also publicly declared their intention to drop their father's last name. Last year, Shiloh, born Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt, legally changed her name to Shiloh Jolie. Vivienne's twin brother, Knox, is reportedly the only sibling who has not yet formally changed his name.

Elsewhere in the interview, Pitt discussed his sobriety, noting he has been sober for seven years but now has occasional drinks. He has been cautious, however, after becoming "overconfident a couple times." He previously credited Bradley Cooper with helping him achieve sobriety.

Despite these personal challenges, Pitt, now in his sixties, has upcoming film projects, including "Heart of the Beast" and Quentin Tarantino's "The Adventures of Cliff Booth."