Brad Pitt calls his favorite actress of all time ‘most beautiful woman on the screen’ in resurfaced interview

Brad Pitt once weighed in on Hollywood’s beauty standards, saying the best actors aren’t always those labelled as “beautiful sex symbols.”

Even though he’s worked with famously attractive stars like Leonardo DiCaprio, Angelina Jolie, and Julia Roberts, Pitt believes looks are just a surface-level impression and don’t define real talent.

In a 1996 interview with Tiger Beat magazine, he admitted there are only “very few men” he truly admires among his favourite actors in Hollywood.

He expressed his admiration for older films and classic actors, appreciating how they depicted men with strong values and principles.

He said, “That’s why I appreciate the older films because they show a man standing up for his principles.”

“Like [Robert] Redford. He portrayed the kind of man men wanted to be, and the kind of man women wanted men to be.”

Robert Redford, famous for his roles in classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), and All the President’s Men (1976), represented the rugged, principled individual that Pitt admired.

Pitt also questioned the notion that Hollywood’s top stars are always traditional “sex symbols.”

He explained, “When you see a person, do you just concentrate on their looks?”

“It’s just a first impression.”

“Then there’s someone who doesn’t catch your eye immediately, but you talk to them, and they become the most beautiful thing in the world.”

He continued, “I’ll tell you who my favourite actress is: Dianne Wiest. And you wouldn’t call her a sex symbol.”

“Dianne Wiest is, to me, the most beautiful woman on the screen.”

Brad Pitt’s admiration for Dianne Wiest might catch some off guard, but her remarkable range and talent have earned her a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most respected actresses.

Wiest’s breakout role was in Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), where she portrayed Holly, a struggling actress grappling with insecurities and personal challenges.

She’s also celebrated for her warmth and depth in films like Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Parenthood (1989).

More recently, Wiest has delivered standout performances in I Care a Lot (2020) and The Mayor of Kingstown (2021).