Brad Pitt Reflects on 'Darker Days' and 'Losses and Pain' Post-Jolie Divorce

Brad Pitt has spoken about navigating challenging periods in his life, referring to them as his "darker days" marked by "losses and pain," in the wake of his protracted divorce from Angelina Jolie. The actor, 62, shared these reflections while promoting his new film, "Heart of the Beast."

In the movie, Pitt portrays James Belmont, a retired Special Forces officer who, along with his combat dog, must survive in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash. Pitt collaborated with survival experts for the project, an experience that he found resonated with his personal journey.

"When I think of the darker days, it was certainly my close relationships that I relied heavily on," Pitt stated. "Friends, dear close friends a handful of close family, and was very open about my struggle." He emphasized the importance of supportive relationships, noting, "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."

The survivalists' approach, which focuses on "little wins" amid inevitable hardship, also struck a chord with the actor. "You're going to suffer losses, you're going to suffer pain, but it's just getting to the next little win," Pitt explained. "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 have previously suggested that his marriage to Jolie contributed to his life spiraling. A source close to the actor told the Daily Mail that he "never had a drink problem, he had an Angelina problem" and has since worked on himself to reach a more positive state.

Pitt and Jolie separated in September 2016 after two years of marriage. Their divorce proceedings, however, concluded in 2024 after an eight-year legal battle.

Meanwhile, Angelina Jolie indicated in an interview with L'Officiel USA that she is ready to embrace a more nomadic lifestyle now that her youngest children, twins Vivienne and Knox, have turned 18. She mentioned her desire to have a home base for family mementos but expressed a wish to travel more extensively. Jolie's need to remain in Los Angeles to comply with custody agreements, which required her minor children to live near Pitt until they turned 18, has now ended. Four of her six children with Pitt have legally changed their last names to Jolie. Pitt has been publicly associated with his girlfriend of nearly four years, Ines de Ramon.