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'I still love the woman': Brad Pitt met his ‘greatest’ love when she was just 17 and 'anonymous'

Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis started dating in 1989 after meeting on a film set and broke up in 1993

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: As the legal battle between Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie rages on, we take a moment to think back to a time when the 'Fight Club' actor was involved in what he called "one of the greatest relationships" of his life.

Pitt, known for his high-profile romances with A-listers such as Jennifer Aniston and Jolie, experienced a love that still holds a special place in his heart. This was with his former girlfriend, Juliette Lewis, whom he met on the set of their television film 'Too Young to Die?'. Despite the significant age difference at the time, with Juliette being only 17 and Brad, 27, the chemistry between them was undeniable, propelling them into the spotlight as one of Hollywood's hottest couples.

'I still love the woman'

Their love story flourished for three years until they decided to go their separate ways in early 1993. While Juliette later stated that Brad is no longer a part of her life, Brad fondly reminisced about the "great time" they shared and expressed his continued affection for his ex-girlfriend. In an interview, Brad admitted, "I still love the woman. There's some real genius there. I had a great time with her. It was one of the greatest relationships I've ever been in. The problem is, we grow up with this vision that love conquers all, and that's just not so, is it?" His heartfelt words were revealed during an interview with Vanity Fair, offering a glimpse into the depth of their connection.

Coincidentally, in 1993, Brad and Juliette worked together again for the film 'Kalifornia'. Reflecting on their romance at the time, Juliette shared, "We met on a movie of the week and started dating when it was over. I already liked him as an actor, plus you gotta respect somebody who’s in the same field as you," during an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

'We were just having a great time'

Before his relationship with Juliette, Brad had been romantically linked to several other young actresses, including Jill Schoelen and Christina Applegate. However, his bond with Lewis escalated quickly. The couple even decided to move in together, savoring the period of anonymity as young, aspiring actors in Los Angeles. "It was such a lovely time in my life — well, in both of our lives — because we were anonymous," Lewis shared in an interview with Blackbook. She fondly recalled their shared bungalow on Melrose, where they would spend time together, enjoying each other's company and indulging in a little recreational activity.

Brad Pitt humorously portrayed their relationship during an interview with Rolling Stone in 1994, saying, "We were trying to be Sid and Nancy or something. We were idiots. We were just having a great time." Their love thrived as their careers flourished, with Lewis receiving an Oscar nomination for 'Cape Fear' and Pitt becoming a sex symbol after his role in 'Thelma & Louise'. They were the talk of the town, photographed together on red carpets, and hailed as one of the hottest couples of the early 1990s.

During the filming of 'Kalifornia', Lewis expressed her joy, revealing, "We’re at the point in love where we just like to see each other every single day and we don’t get bored with each other, so it’s really, really nice," in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Brad added, "You do a scene and then go over and grab the one you love. You want to keep your careers your careers and your love your love, but we just wanted to do it more for a vacation."

'I genuinely loved him'

Regrettably, their relationship did not extend beyond the production of 'Kalifornia'. They parted ways in 1993, with Lewis's publicist stating that they intended to remain friends. Despite the separation, their connection remained significant to both of them. Years later, Juliette shared her thoughts on Brad during an interview with The Guardian. She revealed, "He's not in my universe at all now. It seems like a high-school relationship because now he's a very famous person. I look at this person that I shared a bit of history with. I hope he finds happiness because I genuinely loved him. He's a very stand-up, good guy."

In 2009, Lewis also touched upon the public's fascination with her past relationship with Brad Pitt. She commented, "People ask me about him just because he's famous. They don't really ask about my ex-husband, which is a far more significant relationship because we were married."