Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie on the red carpet at the 81st Annual Academy Awards® in 2009. Photo credit: Jon Didier / ©A.M.P.A.S.
Giving back can be this year’s cause celeb for some superstars, but for Brad Pitt, it’s a fervent lifetime commitment.
The Oscar-nominated actor took time out at the Academy’s Nominees’ Luncheon Monday to explain why he’s so passionate about helping others in need.
“There is no question that we’ve hit the lottery in some way,” he begins. “In the world you see so many struggles – even in our own country. So many people are hurting right now and [it’s] based on longitude and latitude, when they were born, what opportunities they’ve had. I’ve always wrestled with that. I feel very fortunate that I’m in a position where I can pass on that good fortune with a helping hand. I think it’s one of the nicest things about where I get to stand today.”
His movie Moneyball is a tale of triumph over adversity and Pitt believes that’s why audiences have responded to its message. That is certainly what got his juices flowing when he read the script.
“It was a story of value and getting second chances,” he explains. “People have been devalued by their occupation and surroundings and they have worth. That’s what these guys did at that time. They had talent that had been dismissed and disregarded…disregarded because of an evaluation system that was erroneous, but we’ve been doing it this way for 150 years. So, it makes me question what is success, what is failure. Maybe we don’t need to be summing each other up and ourselves up for whatever the last success or failure was.”
In case you missed the pic, it is still in a number of theaters – making the rounds so you can catch it before the upcoming Academy Awards (February 26th, on ABC).