Brad Pitt said his favourite actor is the 'most beautiful woman on the screen'

Celebrity superstar Brad Pitt has worked with the biggest names in Hollywood, but his favourite actor of all time might surprise you.

Pitt has starred in films with other legends including Leonardo DiCaprio and Julia Roberts, but that doesn't mean he considers their work to be the best of the best.

In fact, he believes a member of the New York theatre scene is the greatest and thinks of her as the 'most beautiful woman' in the business.

Pitt shared his opinion on the matter way back in 1996, when he was asked about this favourite actors in the industry.

“I know very few men to look up to,” he told Tiger Beat magazine.

“That’s why I appreciate the older films because they show a man standing up for his principles. Like [Robert] Redford. He portrayed the kind of man men wanted to be, and the kind of man women wanted men to be.”

Despite appearance seemingly being a huge factor when it comes to Hollywood fame, Pitt believes that the greatest stars aren’t always people that would be referred to as ‘sex symbols’.

Getty Images /Albert L. Ortega / Contributor

Pitt explained: “When you see a person, do you just concentrate on their looks? It’s just a first impression. Then there’s someone who doesn’t catch your eye immediately, but you talk to them, and they become the most beautiful thing in the world.”

His favourite thespian of all time, Dianne Wiest, wasn't typically regarded for her looks or for being a 'sex symbol'. The 75-year-old actor's most notable roles include Edward Scissorhands and Footloose.

“The greatest actors aren’t what you would call beautiful sex symbols,” Pitt said, adding: “I’ll tell you who my favourite actress is: Dianne Wiest. And you wouldn’t call her a sex symbol. Dianne Wiest is, to me, the most beautiful woman on the screen.”

20th Century Fox

After studying theatre at the University of Maryland, Wiest made her Broadway debut in 1971 with Robert Anderson's Solitaire/Double Solitaire.

She went on to forge an incredibly successful career on stage, before also making it big in film – winning two Academy Awards for Woody Allen flicks Hannah and Her Sisters and Bullets Over Broadway. Dianne also starred in 80s vampire flick The Lost Boys.

Pitt has always had a kind streak, even letting his 105-year-old neighbour live in his $39 million house until he passed away.