Brad Pitt still mocks George Clooney after beating him to a role in Thelma + Louise more than 35 years ago.
The Moneyball actor’s Hollywood breakthrough came when he played the hunky J.D. in Sir Ridley Scott’s classic movie, but his friend admitted he couldn’t watch the film for “years” because he was so “annoyed” to have missed out on the part and subsequent recognition.
George recalled to The Sunday Times Culture magazine: “So, I was in TV. I was making a good living, but back then actors would say, ‘Well, I’m a film actor — I just happen to be doing TV.’
“And I got to the final test for a role in Thelma + Louise. And, mother****er, Brad got it.
“I didn’t watch Thelma + Louise for years, because I was annoyed. The part launched his career in film. He was doing sitcoms and c*** before, so when it was the thing that could’ve launched me? F***!”
George and Brad are friends and have made a number of films together, and the 64-year-old actor admitted his Wolfs co-star “gives [him] s***” about the casting snub.
He said: “Oh yeah, he gives me s***. But, of course, when I saw it, I was, like, well it had to be that guy.”
George recently revealed he had pretended to be Brad to prank other celebrities, using stationery purporting to be from the Moneyball star.
He told talk show host Jimmy Kimmel: “I sent [a letter] to Tom Cruise, saying they want to do [Interview with the Vampire 2], but this time Brad wants to play Lestat.”
Jimmy laughed: “Brad this afternoon said that Tom called him and said, ‘Yeah, it’s cool, you can play Lestat, that’s fine, I’m OK with that,’ and he was like, ‘What are you talking about?’”
And when it came to Meryl Streep, the former E.R. star sent her a gift that ‘Brad’ felt would come in useful for her.
He explained: “I sent [a letter] to Meryl Streep with a box of CDs for dialect and I said, ‘This guy helped me with my accent in Troy and I think it could really help you.’ “
