Hollywood star Brad Pitt has revealed that he almost got fired from his first film appearance after improvising a line in the 1987 movie No Man’s Land, in a bid to secure his Screen Actors Guild (SAG) membership.

Speaking on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, the 61-year-old actor recalled his uncredited role as a waiter alongside Charlie Sheen and D.B. Sweeney. Pitt said he saw a chance to speak on screen—despite not being directed to—so he could qualify for a SAG card.

“In the scene, I’m pouring champagne. They showed me how to do it—pour, spin, wipe. But you can’t get a SAG card without a speaking role, and you can’t get a speaking role without a SAG card. It’s this catch-22,” he explained.

Trying to break that loop, Pitt ad-libbed a line: “Would you like anything else?” while serving champagne to one of the actors. But his bold move didn’t go unnoticed.

“CUT! CUT! CUT! The first AD runs over and says, ‘You do that again, you’re out of here!’ It was just a shame for the rest of the night,” Pitt recalled.

Despite the reprimand, Pitt went on to become one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors.

Reflecting on his early struggles, Pitt said he would tell his younger self: “Don’t sweat it, bro. Trust yourself… Just trust that voice.” He added that many early-career anxieties were unnecessary and that self-confidence was key.