Profile of Brad Pitt, Activist & Film Actor

In June 2005, ABC's Diane Sawyer interviewed film actor and One Campaign spokesman Brad Pitt as they toured rural Africa. While PrimeTime Live cameras whirred, Pitt showed Sawyer abject poverty, hungry children and AIDS sufferers.

Yet Sawyer persisted in gossiping about his break-up with wife Jennifer Aniston, "It's reported everywhere that you wanted babies and she did not." Pitt shook his head and responded:

"It's a strange focus, isn't it? That my relationships or relationship mishaps takes precedent over something like that [the situation in Africa] … I understand it's about entertainment, but man, it's misguided a bit, isn't it?"

Like close friend and fellow Sexiest Man Alive George Clooney, actor and activist Brad Pitt gets frustrated when the press and fans opt for gossip over issues of importance. And like Clooney, Pitt is learning how to use his celebrity to publicize his activist causes, and to use his film talents and connections to bring political issues to the Hollywood silver screen.

It's a fascinating modern-day dilemma: How does one use mega-celebrity for public good? Are celebrities using public good to promote their lucrative careers? Or does it matter, as long as they're doing good?

I clearly don't have the answers. But when I write profiles of celebrity activists, I focus on those who seem to hold heartfelt convictions about their causes.

Be sure to read my latest in a series of profiles of celebrity activists, Profile of Brad Pitt, Activist & Film Actor.

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