Jean Smart is an actress known for her humor, sharp wit, and nuanced performances, and she recently delved into a role that challenged her emotionally in Babylon. The Damien Chazelle directorial takes an outrageous look at the excesses of early Hollywood. Among its vast and star-studded cast, Smart shares the screen with Brad Pitt, a pairing that sparked both curiosity and excitement.
While Babylon covers the highs and lows of the golden age of cinema, Smart’s portrayal of Eleanor St. John, a Hollywood gossip columnist, brought the reality of fleeting fame into sharp focus. Her character delivers a powerful monologue to Pitt’s aging star, adding emotional depth to a story filled with over-the-top spectacle.
Why Jean Smart Agreed to Star in Babylon
Despite the chaotic elements of Babylon, Jean Smart was drawn to the film for a single, powerful reason. It was her character Eleanor St. John’s heart-wrenching interaction with Brad Pitt’s character, Jack Conrad, that convinced her to take the role. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Smart revealed that the scene she shared with Pitt was the film’s core reason she signed on.
Yeah, get people titillated! Get them out to the theaters! Like, ‘Ew, no. Ew, I don’t want to see that.’ No, the scene with Brad was why I had to do the movie. It’s so beautifully written, and Brad was so brilliant in his quietness and the look in his eyes… oh, God.
For Smart, the scene stood out as a moment of raw emotion, masterfully portraying the fleeting nature of fame and the vulnerability that often accompanies it. Her character, Eleanor, is a Hollywood insider who deeply understands the industry’s allure and pitfalls.
You see, too, that Eleanor, my character, is every bit as caught up in the mystical, magical part of Hollywood, this exciting new industry that made people into gods and goddesses.
This pivotal scene with Pitt, rich in unspoken emotion, was a rare opportunity for Smart to convey the depth of Eleanor’s understanding of Hollywood’s highs and lows, while also allowing Pitt to shine in his portrayal of a fading star.
Jean Smart’s Scene With Brad Pitt Was Heartbreaking And Unforgettable
Jean Smart’s admiration for her scene with Brad Pitt in Babylon goes beyond the surface-level charm of sharing the screen with one of Hollywood’s biggest names. In her own words, the scene was “heartbreaking,” and it left a profound impression on her.
“Oh, looking in Brad’s eyes, oh, it was heartbreaking!” She recounted during an interview for Vanity Fair, further illustrating the emotional weight of the moment. As Smart’s character delivers a monologue that sums up the agony and ecstasy of being a movie star, it is the shared quietness between her and Pitt that elevates the scene to something much more than a simple exchange of dialogue.
Jean Smart’s performance in Babylon once again cements her reputation as an actress capable of delivering in terms of both wit and emotional depth. Through this scene, Smart and Pitt encapsulate the bittersweet reality of Hollywood, offering audiences a moment of raw humanity amidst the chaos of the film’s depiction of the roaring twenties.
You can stream Babylon on Paramount+
