Brad Pitt, 60, is a famous Hollywood actor and by today’s standards, a legend that everyone knows from films or TV shows over the years.
Recently, the iconic star has shared about a rare issue that he claims makes his life harder and has even caused some people to really dislike him.
When performing or in front of cameras, you have to be sharp and good at remembering your lines. Maybe that’s why it’s surprising that Brad Pitt struggles with something similar.
According to the award-winning actor and producer, he thinks he deals with undiagnosed prosopagnosia, often called “face blindness.” This condition is rare and affects about 2.5% of people globally for genetic reasons.
In an interview with GQ magazine in 2022, Pitt talked about how this issue makes social situations tough and meeting new people challenging.
The star says he can hardly remember new faces or recognize them at all.
”No one ever believes me,” Pitt explains when trying to clarify his situation.
He mentioned noticing signs of this condition as early as 2013. The challenges of face blindness have made many think he’s rude or dismissive.
“So many people hate me because they believe I’m being disrespectful,” he said back then. “So I promised myself one year where I just said I would admit it and ask people ‘Okay, where did we meet?’ But it only got worse. People were more offended.”
He added: “Sometimes someone will give me hints so I can say ‘Thanks for helping me.’ But then I annoy more folks. You get comments like ‘You’re being egotistical’ or ‘You’re conceited.’ But it’s confusing for me; I can’t understand faces yet I’m into design/aesthetics. I’m going to get tested.”
Pitt tells GQ magazine that he hasn’t received an official diagnosis yet because getting diagnosed requires going through detailed facial recognition tests along with research.
What exactly is prosopagnosia?
Prosopagnosia means having trouble recognizing someone based on their face alone. Because of this condition, even familiar faces like classmates or family members might not be recognized.
At its worst level, all faces may seem identical without any differences making it hard for someone to identify another person without other clues like their voice.
Many individuals with face blindness learn ways to recognize others but might not even realize they have this problem.
There are two types of face blindness: congenital (developmental) and acquired (from injury).
Different brain injuries like strokes can cause symptoms related to prosopagnosia later on. While there isn’t a single treatment for this condition therapy usually helps develop strategies for social situations needing facial recognition.
Luckily Brad Pitt isn’t alone in facing this “disease.” In fact several well-known figures also deal with similar issues.
Alongside Pitt celebrities such as primatologist Jane Goodall Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and actor Alan Alda have struggled with prosopagnosia too among others!
