Brad Pitt says he plans to quit acting at 50

Get him while he's hot: Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt says he plans to quit acting in three years - when he turns 50.

In a revealing interview with Australia's 60 Minutes, Pitt, 47, dished that his days as a leading man are numbered, and hinted that once he reaches the milestone, his new career may be behind the camera.

Asked how long he planned to carry on acting, Pitt said: "Three years."

Probed about his exact plans, he joked: "Hell if I know. Hell if I know. I've really enjoyed the producerial [sic] side," he added. "Getting stories to the plate that may have had a harder time otherwise."

He continued: "So ... You know, I have gotten away with a few things in writing and I have been pissed off about a few things. How's that?"

So what's eating Pitt?

"Oh, dear God. I mean, come on. I'm gonna pass on that one," the star told the show's correspondent while promoting his latest Oscar-tipped flick, Moneyball, in Tokyo with partner Angelina Jolie last week.

Pitt also noted that he and Jolie may add to their brood of six kids.

"You know, I don't know that we're finished. I don't know yet. I don't know," he said of adopting or conceiving more kids to join Maddox, 10, Pax, 7, Zahara, 6, Shiloh, 5, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 3.

He also spoke about fatherhood, and revealed that his kids influence his acting choices.

"If I'm choosing a film now, I want it to be maybe less immature than things I have done in the past," he said. "I'm very conscious, when they're adults I want it to mean something to them. I want them to think, 'Dad's alright.' It changes everything. Everything. And it's so damn interesting."

Of the kids living in the spotlight, he said: "Their idea is that when they go out beyond the gate - because we have to live behind a gate - there's people standing there in line with cameras trying to take your picture. Their idea is that everyone has to deal with that.

"That's the world as they know it. And our older ones are getting a little more savvy."

He also admitted that he and Jolie worry about the family's lack of privacy and media intrusion.

"Sure I worry. It's the only thing I get hot about, that I'm ready to fight about," he said. "But on the other hand, it's a tradeoff like anything. It's a great tradeoff. These guys, I'm so happy for them because they get to see the world. And their lives are so enriched by it."

Asked if he's happy these days, the Fight Club actor replied: "I think happiness is overrated, truthfully. I do," he said. "I think sometimes you're happy, sometimes you're not. There's too much pressure to be happy. I don't know. I don't really give a sh**. I know I will be at times and I know I won't be at times.

"Satisfied, at peace, those would be more goals for myself."

Check out Pitt's interview here.

Update: You can stop the countdown. Pitt has since piped up to clarify his comments about ending his acting career.

"I wasn't putting an exact deadline on my expiration date (as an actor) but I just see it coming and I do have an interest in the producing side," Pitt told reporters at a press conference promoting Moneyball in South Korea.

So less of a gallop, more of shimmy behind the camera. Definitely. Maybe.

- Blogger Bites Back