Brad Pitt, 60, a Hollywood icon, recently opened up about a rare condition affecting his life: prosopagnosia, or “face blindness.” This neurological disorder makes recognizing faces difficult, impacting around 2.5% of the global population.
“I can hardly remember new faces or recognize them at all,” Pitt shared in a 2022 GQ interview. He first noticed the issue in 2013 and has faced misunderstandings in social situations. “So many people hate me because they believe I’m being disrespectful,” he explained. Despite attempts to admit his condition and ask for help, reactions often worsened. “People think I’m egotistical or conceited,” he said, adding that he plans to pursue official diagnosis tests.
Prosopagnosia impairs the ability to recognize faces, even of family or close friends. Severe cases make all faces appear identical, requiring reliance on other cues like voice or context. The condition may be congenital or caused by brain injury.
While there is no cure, therapy can help individuals develop recognition strategies.
Pitt is among several notable figures with face blindness, including Jane Goodall, Steve Wozniak, and Alan Alda. Despite the challenges, Pitt remains committed to understanding and navigating this unique condition.
“This confusion still surprises me,” he admitted, “especially because I value design and aesthetics so much.”