Mendes Turns Down Brad

Most directors in Hollywood would give their eye teeth to lure Brad Pitt to one of their projects, but Sam Mendes reckons he's more difficult to persuade. In a talk last night at the Covent Garden Opera House, (reported by the London Standard) the Oscar-winning director revealed that a host of stars, including Pitt, had offered their services to the Donmar warehouse following the success of Nicole Kidman in The Blue Room. 'The problem is that theatre must not only be an event.' Mendes told the annual gathering of the Covent Garden Community Association. 'We can put every show on the front page of newspapers, but what happens then?' The success of Donmar production, The Blue Room, in which Kidman's strip scene earned her the title of 'pure theatrical Viagra' has led to a host of stars getting their kit off on stage. Next up will be Jerry Hall who takes on the role of Mrs Robinson made recently infamous by Kathleen Turner in The Graduate. Mendes went on to ponder the finer points dividing British films from their Hollywood counterparts. 'I think British movies get a bad rap.' he told the audience. 'The problem we face is that in Europe it is an art, in America it is an industry.'