Oscar-winning Brad Pitt has admitted he could never pull off what Colin Farrell achieved in The Penguin. He revealed he was stunned by Farrell’s ability to convey such intense emotions beneath layers of heavy prosthetics, calling the achievement “impossible.”

Brad Pitt has nothing but praise for Colin Farrell’s Penguin performance

Speaking with Esquire, Pitt described himself as an avid viewer who falls asleep watching a show most nights. The Penguin was one series that caught his attention, largely due to Colin Farrell’s work as Oz Cobb. The actor went on to discuss the challenges of performing while wearing extensive makeup and a restrictive suit.

“How do you emote the way he did with an inch of rubber on your face? I’m telling you, it’s impossible to get any kind of emotion out, but he did it,” Pitt said. He added that Farrell also dealt with a limp and long hours in the prosthetics chair. “That drives me crazy. I cannot do it.”

Pitt compared the discomfort to childhood memories of poison ivy on his face and neck. The sensation, he explained, would make focusing on performance nearly unbearable for him. His comments highlight the technical skill and patience required for Farrell’s award-winning turn in the HBO series.

The Penguin, developed by Lauren LeFranc, follows Oz Cobb’s rise through Gotham City’s criminal underworld after the events of The Batman. Colin Farrell’s performance got widespread acclaim, including a Golden Globe win and multiple Emmy nominations for the series.

Pitt, currently promoting his upcoming film Heart of the Beast with director David Ayer, said he remains open to streaming roles if the material feels right. He cited Kate Winslet’s work in Mare of Easttown as another example of commitment he admires. Still, the specific challenge of The Penguin appears to stand apart for him. The combination of physical restriction, vocal transformation, and emotional depth left a lasting impression.