Pitt Reflects on Early Career, “Thelma & Louise” Co-Stars

Sarandon and Davis Impressed the Young Actor

Looking back on his early career, Brad Pitt recalls being particularly impressed by his co-stars Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon during the filming of “Thelma & Louise.” The actor shared his experiences on a recent podcast appearance.

A-List Encounters

In a conversation on the “New Heights” podcast with brothers Jason and Travis Kelce, Pitt remembered his time working with Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, whom he described as “category A” actresses due to their high profile. He worked alongside them in the 1991 film “Thelma and Louise.”

“When I met Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, they impressed me,” Pitt said, though he added that he “overcame it quickly.”

In the film, Pitt played J.D., a charismatic young man who seduces Davis’s character and steals money, leading to a memorable scene directed by Ridley Scott. Interestingly, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) has specific guidelines for intimate scenes, emphasizing the need for clear consent and boundaries to protect actors (SAG-AFTRA, 2020).

Memories from the Set

“Geena was very sweet, kind and kind. That love scene, I think, lasted two days of filming. She took care of me,” Pitt recalled.

Sarandon also highlighted Pitt’s contributions went beyond just his looks. “When I saw the movie, what really impressed me, besides its good looks and its amazing body, was its sense of humor, because it made the character more interesting, something that was not even in the script,” she said in 2021.

Davis also spoke highly of her co-star’s talent, noting the impact the film had on his career. “He just has everything. I realized when he was doing the test he was very talented,” she told People magazine in 2022, during the film’s 30th-anniversary celebration.

She added, “He really is the star of the moment and it’s wonderful to see him.”

Overcoming Limitations

Following “Thelma & Louise”, Pitt felt typecast into romantic lead roles. “In the 1990s, there was only one type of character for me. I felt limited,” he confessed in an interview with the New York Times.

“I was disappointed. It was painful, but I realized that the way things were told in that movie was not as they should be. So I made the decision to invest my time only in quality stories. It was something that was reflected in my career in the next decade,” he said.