Everybody’s Troy boy

In what could be the biggest role of his career, Brad Pitt stars in director Wolfgang Petersen’s epic drama, Troy. Featuring an all-star cast, including the legendary Peter O’Toole, Julie Christie, Diane Kruger and Rose Byrne, Troy tells the story of war and the men who waged it. Forty -year-old Pitt, who has been named the "sexiest man alive" twice, plays the great warrior Achilles in Troy. He talks to Honie Stevens about the making of the blockbuster, the inputs required to build up his character and his blissful marriage to Jennifer Aniston. 

Excerpts from an exclusive interview:

Was it hard to get into the role of Achilles, in Troy?

Fortunately, lot of research has been done on The Iliad. I had a great well of information to glean from. I was dealing with a real isolated character who was in search of self, I guess.

This may take a while, but it’s a real telling line when he says, "I want what all men want. I just want it more." There’s a real restlessness, and as I say, an isolation in the guy. Achilles’ heel to me is representative of his heart because it wasn’t until King Priam knocked some sense into him with words instead of might that he was then able to ride out the rest of his life with a personal understanding of a greater humanity and his own inner peace.

The choreography was fantastic. It was very important that we find a distinct fighting style. Simon Crane who was our second unit was responsible for all of the strategies and choreographies and the dramas of the fights. He comes from Braveheart, and hejust top notch. He took a ballet approach and was really adamant that we did it ourselves and that we learned it.

Well, it’s amazing what an impending midlife crises will do for you, really. It got me motivated. I just turned 40 in December.

No. I really see it as a badge of honour. I’ve really kind of enjoyed it. No more excuses. I’m responsible. I can’t blame anything on my parents. I’m responsible for my mistakes and my choices.

No. I didn’t do anything. I always said that I was going to get something like a 40-year-old would like, a Rolls or something, but then, I came back from work and had a nice little quiet dinner with my friends and my wife.

It sucked. It was brutal. I started out about six months ahead. I got a guy who knew what he was talking about. It was four meals a day of protein and low carb, and it was quitting smoking and it was two or three hours in the gym, getting to a point of absolute discomfort, and after three months, I started to finally enjoy it. On top of that, we had sword rehearsals.

No. I picked it up again. 

Do you buff up for the nude scenes?

[Laughs] No, no. I feel really stupid. You hear stories of that, people working out for the scene, but no. You can see when someone has just come out of the gym. They’re very vascular and red or something.

It’s pretty close. It’s really buried, but if you really look, it’s there. I read the one line, when Priam comes to ask for a favour and Achilles says, ‘If I do this for you, you’re still my enemy in the morning,’ and Priam says, ‘You’re still my enemy tonight, but even enemies can show respect.’ That thing floored me.

No. I would’ve when I was younger. But now I’m aware that my game is going to be better when his game is better.

Have you ever spent so much time in a skirt?

I have never spent so much time in a skirt, and if I had, I certainly wouldn’t say it here, but they’re not bad.

Well, I’d been off for two years before going into this film. So, Jen and I got a lot of time together. Then, we both accept this aspect of our business and we just go out to see each other when we can.

Oh yeah, we’ve been talking about a couple of things. So, we’ll definitely do something. We say that you look through history at couples that work together. The odds aren’t with us. So, it’d have to be hand picked.

I’d like to turn back time if I could.

Oh, you know, I’d redo a few things.

I’m not really happy with everything, but I believe that mistakes define you as much as anything. They help you get real understanding of yourself. — Asia Features