Brad Pitt makes a bold statement about religion

Brad Pitt makes a statement about his religious beliefs, or lack of. Photo / Getty

Brad Pitt is an atheist.

The 51-year-old actor was raised a strict Baptist by his parents but has now turned his back on religion completely.

He told Britain's Daily Telegraph that his upbringing, had "all the Christian guilt about what you can and cannot, should and shouldn't do".

Meanwhile, Brad insisted that his relationship with wife Angelina Jolie, 40 and their six children have made him a better actor.

He explained: "'I think you can see it in my work. I was a pretty good actor before, but definitely hit and miss. I think I became a really good actor.

"I'm sure a lot of that has to do with age and wisdom too. But I see an absolute shift from the day I started my family. And I think it's because family - and certainly kids and a stable relationship - is something bigger than yourself.

"They need you to sit down with them, be there for them when they wake up in the middle of the night.

"They need you. So I think that made me less tense about things, less stressed. And very clear that if I'm going to be doing something that's going to take me away from my family, it better be something that I believe in, and that they're going to see and be proud of their dad.

"And also I'm more efficient with it, because it's taking me away from them. I get in there, I get the job done, and I go home. You know, nowadays I really can't wait to get home. More than at any time in my life, I've got purpose - real purpose. It feels like I've found my place."

-Bang! Showbiz