You know what? Even Hollywood royalty gets starstruck, you just have to ask Brad Pitt. Yep, despite being one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, Pitt once admitted that working with an Oscar-winning legend on a sci-fi drama left him totally awestruck. The legend? Sean Penn.

Pitt and Penn worked together on Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life, a dreamy, mind-bending 2011 masterpiece that’s equal parts cosmic and emotional therapy session. While Pitt played the stern father in the time-bending epic, Penn made him feel like a nervous rookie. Yep, the guy who dated Angelina Jolie and punched zombies in World War Z still gets flustered when greatness walks in. Because apparently, even Pitt knows when he’s in the presence of real acting gravity.

Sean Penn still makes Brad Pitt star-struck

Brad Pitt and Sean Penn in The Tree of Life (Credits- Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Even Brad Pitt isn’t immune to fanboy moments, especially when it comes to Tree of Life co-star Sean Penn. In a candid chat with Dax Shepard on the Armchair Expert podcast, Pitt got real about the rare times he’s felt totally starstruck, and yep, he has his “celebrity crush” moments too.

The conversation kicked off with Dax recalling his own split view of Robert Downey Jr., the RDJ he knows personally versus the one he worshipped onscreen. He said,

There’s Robert, the dude I know…and then there’s the guy I was just in love with from Chaplin and all these things.

When Dax asked Pitt if he had ever had someone like that, Pitt’s response was instant and heartfelt,

…I have that with Sean Penn. He’d be my one, I think. Number one, ’89 Sean Penn — oh [ __ ] — he’d be number one.

Let’s not forget that Pitt and Penn shared the screen in Terrence Malick’s poetic 2011 sci-fi drama, The Tree of Life, a $58.3 million film about life, death, and dinosaurs (seriously). And while the movie has left critics and audiences scratching their heads and wiping tears in equal measure, for Pitt, it came with the added thrill of working alongside his acting idol.

The fact that even Pitt, the guy with an Oscar, multiple heartthrob titles, and a Tarantino film under his belt, can be reduced to a starstruck fanboy proves that legends admire legends. And in this Hollywood lovefest, Sean Penn sits firmly on Brad’s personal Mt. Rushmore.

MovieDirectorRT Tomatometer ScoreRT Popcornmeter ScoreIMDb RatingThe Tree of LifeTerrence Malick83%97%6.8/10F1Joseph Kosinski85%60%7.9/10

Related: “I just won’t accept anything else”: Amid Brad Pitt Rumors, Charlize Theron Gave Up on Dating After Tumultuous Affair With Sean Penn

Our Thoughts- Brad Pitt’s Hollywood charm fuels bromances, fast cars, and fanboy moments

Brad Pitt in F1 (Credits- Warner Bros)

Brad Pitt might be embroiled in a never-ending legal soap opera with Angelina Jolie, but let’s be real, his status in Hollywood hasn’t exactly taken a nosedive. From racing into his F1 movie (where he’s teaming with real-world drivers and major producers) to keeping his bromance alive with George Clooney (Wolves reunion, anyone?), Brad’s still very much the industry’s golden guy.

Related: Sean Penn Didn’t Mince Words About His Frustration in a Brad Pitt Starrer That is Considered One of the Best Movies Ever Made

Even while legal headlines swirl, he’s managed to hold tight to friendships that go way back. Clooney still calls him his “partner in crime,” and their ongoing collaborations prove Hollywood’s most elite still answer when Brad calls. His admiration for icons like Sean Penn just reinforces how grounded and geeky he can be beneath the swagger.

And let’s not ignore the fact that Brad’s inner circle hasn’t crumbled amid the Jolie chaos. He’s still headlining prestige projects, getting love from peers, and managing to fanboy over actors like Newman and Penn. The man may be untouchable when it comes to red carpet cool, but underneath, he’s still the dude who gets starstruck.

F1 is running in theaters now.
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