Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt says when he arrived at Hollywood in the late 1980s he was told he couldn't act and should take acting classes.

The 48-year-old, who raises six kids with partner Angelina Jolie, said the first big-time role he auditioned for was The Accused, reported Us magazine.

"My agent sent me out for two films. One of them was The Accused with Jodie Foster. I was so excited. After the auditions I called up and asked, 'How did I do?'. There were three seconds of silence and then: 'Have you ever thought about acting classes?'," Pitt said.

Foster, 49, won her first Best Actress Oscar in the harrowing 1988 drama in which she played the victim of gang rape.

The actor also said he is far more confident about his acting nowadays.

"I die really well, by the way. It's one of my strong points. I just take a bullet well," Pitt said.

The actor has received two Academy Award nominations for his films 12 Monkeys and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.