CHILDREN? LOTS! MARRIAGE? CAUTION! - by Christine Spines

Brad Pitt about life at 42, Angelina Jolie, and his experiences in Africa.

Deep down in their hearts they still love each other - the newest US headlines about ex-couple Brad Pitt, 42, and Jennifer Aniston, 37. They were married for 5 years and for Americans they seem to have embodied the perfect couple. How else can one explain that there is still a lot of speculation about a possible reconciliation. Of course, each time one of them talks about the other it's always with the highest praise, which may well be interpreted as a renewed attraction. More likely, however, it is simply a friendship between two people which has survived even the wounds of separation. Both of them have been in new relationships for quite some time now, which they just reaffirmed again. Jennifer Aniston pointed out on the Oprah Winfrey Show that she's not at all a single, lovesick woman, but instead the girlfriend of her colleague Vince Vaughn, 36. And Brad Pitt confirmed during an interview with BUNTE how happy he is with his new partner Angelina Jolie, 31, her adopted children Maddox, 5, and Zahara, 1, and their biological child Shiloh (5 months). The cause of the interview was the movie "Babel" (German release: December 21), in which Pitt is playing an American travelling through remote areas of Morocco with his wife - Cate Blanchett. Two shepherd boys shoot their bus by mistake and he gets stranded in a village with his injured wife.

Your life has changed drastically. Divorce, a daughter...

Counting the two kids Angie brought with her I made it to three kids in only one year. I'd like to go on like this, especially after watching the World Cup in Germany: Three kids a year, this way I'll have my own football team in 2 1/2 years...

So are you a football fan?

Whenever Wolfgang Petersen allowed me a break while filming "Troy", I read about the history of the Olympic Games. What fascinated me was the idea of removing the pressure of aggression between nations by peaceful competition, developing a healthy patriotism in the process, which was clearly visible during the World Cup.

Are you playing football yourself?

I'd love to, especially with my kids, but you can't force them to join the enthusiasm. We showed them several musical instruments and unfortunately Maddox immediately picked out the drums for himself.

You're talking about "your" kids. Do you see the two adopted children as your own, too?

Angie and me live together and the kids live with us. They are our children.

There are rumours that you got married in secret? Is that true?

False.

Are you planning on getting married?

When you have been taught a lot about marriage by experience like Angie and me, you should approach this subject with the utmost caution.

Why did you chose Namibia of all countries for the birth of your child?

Angie had visited the country before and she hearts Africa. We wanted to consciously connect our child with a world outside our own, because that one is pretty crazy. Just imagine the circus if Angie had given birth in a Western country. I thought it was funny when the Namibian minister for tourism said that nobody really knew where his country was. That's why he supported us and we had a very welcome measure of privacy. And our daughter has a Namibian passport, which we are all very proud of.

What experiences have you made in Africa?

Scenery so beautiful that it takes your breath away, but not a paradise for the people. I realized for the first time how privileged we live in the Western world. I saw children walking barefoot for six miles to bring water to their hut. And who knows if it's contaminated! Still, the people try to keep up their dignity and make a future for their children. This experience is part of me now.

With what consequences?

I'm noticing how hostile certain groups of people are behaving, even in light of increasing globalization. That's why I decided on a movie where the title says it all: "Babel". In this story people's destinies are interwoven with each other, who all speak different languages and come from different cultures: Morocco, Japan, Los Angeles, Mexico. The movie shows that we're basically all equal, in spite of superficial differences.

You're involved in charity work, you're an actor, producer, and you have an active partner and three children. How do you manage all that?

I force myself to be as efficient as possible. In the past I have let myself just drift along, just letting the day go by. Now I want to fully use every second and it's about time, too. I'm at the mature age of 42.

And? How are you?

I'm feeling very good. Now I know who I am and what I want to get out of my life. It's very important for me to know that.

Do you remember going on dates on your bike? These days you and Angelina fly private jets...

To fly our own planes resembles our own life for Angie and me. It gives us freedom, privacy and boundlessness. But we're always aware of the fact that every minute something unforeseen could happen and cause a crash.