Brad Pitt opens up about drinking and divorce

Brad Pitt has spoken for the first time about his divorce from Angelina Jolie and his relationship with their children.

During a photoshoot around US national parks, the actor told GQ magazine that the recent chaos in his personal life was "self-inflicted".

The 53-year-old actor admitted to heavy drinking and smoking cannabis, but said he had turned a new page.

"I just started therapy," he said.

"I love it. I love it. I went through two therapists to get to the right one."

He spoke of his recent divorce from Angelina Jolie, which followed a reported altercation between him and his 15-year-old son Maddox on the family's private plane.

"I famously step in s*** - at least for me it seems pretty epic," he said.

"I often say the wrong thing, often in the wrong place and time. I'm trying to get better. I'm really trying to get better."

He said he had passed his "stoner phase" and given up drinking, something his wife publicly criticised him for.

"Back in my stoner days, I wanted to smoke a joint with Jack and Snoop and Willie. You know, when you're a stoner, you get these really stupid ideas. Well, I don't want to indict the others, but I haven't made it to Willie yet," he said.

"I enjoy wine very, very much, but I just ran it to the ground. I had to step away for a minute," he added.

"Don't want to live that way anymore."

The actor told GQ he now prefers to replace booze with "cranberry juice and fizzy water", and promised he has "the cleanest urinary tract in all of LA".

Pitt said the split with Jolie had been a "huge generator for change".

He said the two decided to abandon the path of "vitriolic hatred" and work together to sort out their issues.

Now, the actor says he finds solace in working creatively with his hands.

"I'm making everything," he said.

"I'm working with clay, plaster, rebar, wood."