Brad Pitt’s Rare Quotes About Fatherhood While Coparenting With Ex Angelina Jolie: ‘They’re Taking All the Focus’

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Brad Pitt's Rare Quotes About Fatherhood While Coparenting With Ex Angelina Jolie: 'They're Taking All the Focus'

His greatest accomplishment. Over the years, Brad Pitt has praised the influence that fatherhood has had on him. The actor first became a dad shortly after he started dating Angelina Jolie. He legally adopted her son Maddox and daughter Zahara one year after the couple sparked romance rumors in 2005. Pitt and Jolie went on to welcome daughter Shiloh in 2006 and they adopted son Pax from Vietnam in 2007. One year later, the pair welcomed twins, Knox and Vivienne. “I feel like the richest man alive since I’ve become a father,” the Oscar winner told Psychologies magazine in 2014. “Being a father has changed me on so many levels and made me more generous and alive. I see my children as an essential part of my life. I love being a father and all the responsibilities that entails.” For the Seven actor, fatherhood quickly transformed into his biggest priority. [jwplayer 3nJOo4xn-zhNYySv2] “I worry about them all the time,” he admitted. “That’s the emotional bond and responsibility that sweeps over you when you have a family to look after. I care about them more than I care about myself, which I think is the real definition of love. You see past yourself and become more generous and giving, and wanting only the best for your family.” After more than a decade together, Pitt and Jolie called it quits in 2016. Amid the twosome's messy custody battle, they were declared legally single in April 2019. At the time, the Ocean's Eleven star opened up about how he took inspiration from his personal life to influence his work. "My individual experience is somewhat universal, in the fact that you know our parents, our universe, our gods, our first imprint on on how to behave, react, feel in the world," Pitt told CNN about his role in Ad Astra being shaped by his kids. "And with that, to different degrees, some of us more than others, carry pain and confusion from that. I think it almost takes a lifetime to understand what was yours, and what was theirs." He added: "My dad always said he wanted to give me a better life than he had coming from extreme poverty, and he did it. And it makes me think, as a dad, what do I have to offer that's better than I had, to my kids?" Scroll down for Pitt's candid quotes about being a father: [podcast_block]

Credit: Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Brad Pitt's Rare Quotes About Fatherhood While Coparenting With Ex Angelina Jolie: 'They're Taking All the Focus'

His greatest accomplishment. Over the years, Brad Pitt has praised the influence that fatherhood has had on him. The actor first became a dad shortly after he started dating Angelina Jolie. He legally adopted her son Maddox and daughter Zahara one year after the couple sparked romance rumors in 2005. Pitt and Jolie went on to welcome daughter Shiloh in 2006 and they adopted son Pax from Vietnam in 2007. One year later, the pair welcomed twins, Knox and Vivienne. “I feel like the richest man alive since I’ve become a father,” the Oscar winner told Psychologies magazine in 2014. “Being a father has changed me on so many levels and made me more generous and alive. I see my children as an essential part of my life. I love being a father and all the responsibilities that entails.” For the Seven actor, fatherhood quickly transformed into his biggest priority. [jwplayer 3nJOo4xn-zhNYySv2] “I worry about them all the time,” he admitted. “That’s the emotional bond and responsibility that sweeps over you when you have a family to look after. I care about them more than I care about myself, which I think is the real definition of love. You see past yourself and become more generous and giving, and wanting only the best for your family.” After more than a decade together, Pitt and Jolie called it quits in 2016. Amid the twosome's messy custody battle, they were declared legally single in April 2019. At the time, the Ocean's Eleven star opened up about how he took inspiration from his personal life to influence his work. "My individual experience is somewhat universal, in the fact that you know our parents, our universe, our gods, our first imprint on on how to behave, react, feel in the world," Pitt told CNN about his role in Ad Astra being shaped by his kids. "And with that, to different degrees, some of us more than others, carry pain and confusion from that. I think it almost takes a lifetime to understand what was yours, and what was theirs." He added: "My dad always said he wanted to give me a better life than he had coming from extreme poverty, and he did it. And it makes me think, as a dad, what do I have to offer that's better than I had, to my kids?" Scroll down for Pitt's candid quotes about being a father: [podcast_block]

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May 2011

"Angie and I do everything we can to carve out some semblance of normalcy for them, to re-create the kinds of moments that were special for us," Pitt shared with USA Weekend about his parenting approach. "It's not unusual for the kids to be covered in paint. We have mud fights. It's chaos from morning until the lights go out, and sometimes after that."

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May 2017

During a candid interview with the Associated Press, the Fight Club actor gushed about the mark his children have left on him. "Kids are everything. Kids are your life. They're taking all the focus, as they should anyway," he said at the time.

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December 2019

For Interview Magazine, Pitt opened up to Anthony Hopkins about how his view on life changed. "I find myself, at this latter stage, much more moved," he explained. "Moved by my kids, moved by friends, moved by the news. Just moved."

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January 2020

Amid awards season, the film producer discussed his plans to ring in his accolades with his children. “There hasn’t been a lot of time to celebrate,” he revealed to Entertainment Tonight. “They call it a season for a reason. We’ll do that when it’s all said and done, I’m sure.”

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February 2020

After winning his first Oscar for his role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Pitt took the chance to dedicate the moment to his family.

"This is for my kids who color everything I do," he said during his emotional acceptance for the best supporting actor award. "I adore you."

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February 2020

Following his big win, the Oklahoma native revealed the advice he gives his kids about their plans for the future. "I want them to follow their bliss, follow their passions, whatever they're most interested in," he told reporters. "It's about guiding as you can, but they get to try everything on and try what their passion is."

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August 2022

Pitt showed his support for daughter Shiloh after her dance videos went viral. "It brings a tear to the eye, yeah," the Bullet Train actor told Entertainment Tonight, referring to his offspring as "very beautiful.

He added: “I don't know where she got it from. I'm Mr. Two-Left-Feet here. I love when they find their own way, find things they are interested in and flourish.”

In an interview with Extra, he added it is "beautiful" that Zahara is attending Spelman College in 2022. Pitt went on to tell Vanity Fair that he was "so proud" of his "smart" daughter's accomplishment, wondering, "Where does the time go?"