He’s as A-list as they get. Which is why, in a hotel conference room in Cancun, he is carrying off a pale V-neck sweater like a god, rocking the unflattering centre-parted, long-haired barnet of current project World War Z and causing unusually high traffic of hotel staff to appear carrying un-asked-for trays of water, napkins, snacks.

His star wattage is unmistakable, tangible, but Pitt remains a gent. He goes out of his way to be courteous to everyone, ponders every question with considerable thought as though it’s the first time he’s ever heard it, and is endearingly uncomfortable with flattery.

When TF relays the compliments showered on him by his Moneyball co-star Jonah Hill, he wriggles in his seat and mumbles affectionately, “Aw, Jonah’s a dick.” Pitt’s mantra remains the same as when he started out, to judge him on actions not words: “In Missouri, where I come from, we don’t talk about what we do – we just do it…”