Pitt Attributes Speeches to 'Real Work,' 'Funny Friends'

Oscar winner managed to overcome his nerves
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 11, 2020 8:05 AM CST
Pitt Attributes Speeches to 'Real Work,' 'Funny Friends'
Brad Pitt accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a supporting role for "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" at the Oscars on Sunday.   (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Brad Pitt's speechwriting is apparently as worthy of applause as his acting. There was much discussion about Pitt's ghostwriter after a round of impressive award show speeches. But there is no ghostwriter, Pitt told Variety on Sunday as he took home the Oscar for best supporting actor. "Historically, I’ve always been really tentative about speeches, like they make me nervous," he said. "This round, I figured if I'm going to do this, let's put some real work into it, try to get comfortable. This is the result of that." He's not taking all the credit, however.

Pitt said he'd sought speechwriting help from a lot of "funny friends" including comedians Jim Jefferies and Bob Oschack as well as David Fincher, who directed the actor in Fight Club and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. "We trade barbs every week," Pitt said. The chats paid off again Sunday. "They told me I only have 45 seconds up here, which is 45 seconds more than the Senate gave John Bolton this week," Pitt said in his acceptance speech, per the Guardian. He then told Leonardo DiCaprio, "I'll ride on your coattails any day, man. The view's fantastic." (More Brad Pitt stories.)

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