Brad Pitt has opened up about one of the most difficult periods of his life, revealing that he is no longer sober after seven years without alcohol and recalling a period when he experienced suicidal thoughts amid what he described only as “family stuff”. 

The Oscar-winning actor, 62, made the revelations in a candid interview with Esquire, offering a rare glimpse into his struggles with alcohol, mental health and the personal turmoil he has experienced in the years since his separation from Angelina Jolie.

Pitt said he had never considered himself someone prone to suicidal thoughts, describing himself as a natural optimist. However, he recalled one particularly painful period when his emotional distress became overwhelming and he struggled to see a way forward.

The actor also acknowledged that his relationship with alcohol has changed since he stopped drinking years ago. While he now drinks again, Pitt said he has learnt to keep it under control and recognises that consuming too much alcohol is not good for him.

Brad Pitt says he is no longer sober

Pitt revealed that he maintained sobriety for seven years before returning to alcohol. He stressed that his current drinking is limited and that he has become more conscious of his boundaries.

“I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon. In a more restrained manner. I got overconfident a couple times, went, Yep, nope, not good for me. Not in big quantities.”

When the interviewer suggested that this meant he could have a glass of wine, Pitt responded, “You can have a glass of wine,” the interviewer said. He responded, “Yeah. Well…I can have a few. But I can’t have a lot. I have to be professional about it.”

Pitt has previously been open about his relationship with alcohol. In 2017, he spoke to GQ about giving up drinking and reflected on how alcohol and marijuana had been part of his life for years.

The actor also acknowledged that his fondness for wine had developed into something unhealthy. Two years later, he told The New York Times that he had spent about 18 months participating in an all-male Alcoholics Anonymous recovery group.

Pitt subsequently publicly thanked Bradley Cooper for helping him through his sobriety journey. During a 2020 National Board of Review gala, Pitt credited Cooper with supporting him when he was attempting to overcome his dependence on alcohol.

In a 2025 appearance on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Pitt also reflected on how vulnerable he had been during his recovery and his willingness to accept assistance.

“I was pretty much on my knees, and I was really open,” he said at the time. “I was trying anything and everyone.”

Pitt recalls period when he felt suicidal

Alongside his comments about alcohol, Pitt spoke about an extremely dark period in which he experienced suicidal thoughts.

The actor said such thoughts were not something he had regularly experienced throughout his life. Instead, he described himself as a “congenital optimist” and said his natural tendency to look for positive outcomes had helped him navigate difficult situations.

However, he recalled one period when the emotional pain became so intense that he understood how someone could view death as a way of escaping suffering.

“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,” Pitt admitted.

He continued, “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 said the experience also changed the way he understood people who contemplate suicide. Rather than describing it simply as a desire to die, he said he came to understand it as a desperate search for an end to overwhelming pain.

“And I thought, 'Oh, okay, now I understand' - I understand suicide, in the sense that it's just relief. It's just looking for relief from the pain.”

The actor said his instinct for survival ultimately helped him move through that period.

“This s**t ain't easy. And you’re talking to a guy who won the lottery,” Brad further added.

When asked whether the thoughts were connected to issues involving his children, Pitt did not elaborate on the circumstances but instead referred broadly to difficulties within his family.

“Family stuff... We could leave it at that.”

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s long-running family battle

Pitt's comments come against the backdrop of his prolonged and highly publicised legal and personal disputes with Angelina Jolie.

The pair, who became one of Hollywood's most prominent couples and were frequently referred to as “Brangelina”, married in 2014 after years together. Jolie filed for divorce in 2016, beginning a legal battle that continued for years before their divorce was finally completed in December 2024.

The former couple share six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox.

Their family life has remained a source of public attention throughout their legal disputes. Several of the children have also reportedly stopped using Pitt's surname or sought changes to their names.

The former couple's legal disagreements have extended beyond their marriage and custody issues, including a dispute over Château Miraval, the French vineyard they once owned together.

Jolie also made allegations of physical abuse against Pitt in legal documents relating to an alleged 2016 incident aboard a private flight. Pitt has denied the allegations. The FBI investigated the incident but did not bring criminal charges against him.

Jolie speaks about trauma and healing

Pitt's remarks come at a time when Jolie is also discussing themes of trauma and recovery in connection with her filmmaking.

Jolie is preparing to release ‘Without Blood’, a film she directed and produced and which stars Salma Hayek and Demian Bichir. Based on Alessandro Baricco's novel, the film examines the consequences of violence and explores themes including conflict, memory, trauma and healing.

Speaking about the project, Jolie said, “The film is for anyone who seeks answers and healing after trauma,” Jolie said and went on to add, “The book discusses how we often ‘return to where we break.’ That’s true for almost anyone. No one knows what someone else has gone through. To sit and talk with openness and honesty is a beginning.”

‘Without Blood’ is set against the aftermath of an unnamed conflict and follows people dealing with the long-term consequences of violence. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on September 18, 2026.

(Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress, mental health challenges, or thoughts of self-harm, seek professional support without delay. You can contact Tele-MANAS, a 24x7 mental health helpline by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, at 14416 or 1800-891-4416.)