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It’s been a good few weeks for Brad Pitt.
In addition to being awarded joint custody of his six children in the latest development in his nasty custody battle with estranged wife Angelina Jolie, the actor also seems to have his eye on a potential new love interest.
Brad (57) reportedly had a fling with Polish swimsuit model Nicole Poturalski (28), who’s said to have an “open marriage” with German restaurateur Roland Mary (68), but they split in October after just a few months of dating.
Since then it’s all been quiet on the romance front – until news emerged recently that Brad was seen flirting and exchanging numbers with actress and singer Andra Day at the Oscars in April.
Andra was nominated for best actress for her portrayal of legendary American songstress Billie Holiday in the biopic The United States vs. Billie Holiday, while Brad presented a gong at the bash.
“Andra has been on Brad’s radar for a while,” a source says. “They were flirting backstage and are believed to have swopped numbers. It could be just professional, but some of Brad’s pals have been talking about what a great couple they’d make.”
Andra (36) rose to prominence with the release of her acclaimed 2015 R&B album Cheers to the Fall, and she’s had roles in the 2017’s Marshall and voiced a character in animated movie Cars 3.
But The United States vs. Billie Holiday really put her on the acting map. She plays the legendary jazz singer and went all-in for the role by taking up smoking and heavily drinking gin.
“It’s probably one of the most unhealthy things I’ve done,” she told US news programme PBS NewsHour, adding the smokes and booze helped her emulate the “gravel” in Billie’s voice.
The star-making turn also earned her a Golden Globe award.
Brad’s reported meet-up with Andra came just weeks before he won a major victory in court when he was granted joint custody of his children with Angelina (45), who filed for divorce in 2016.
The decision was reportedly a major blow to the Oscar-winning actress, as she was upset the presiding judge didn’t allow their kids, Maddox (19), Pax (17), Zahara (16), Shiloh (15) and twins Vivienne and Knox (12), to testify in the custody hearings.
“This system is at fault, and Angelina is focused on fighting a system that doesn’t take into account the full set of issues that affect her family and other families in this situation,” a source close to Angie says.
“She’s working hard to ensure that other families don’t go through her experience.”
Insiders said Judge John Ouderkirk – the private judge hired by the former couple to preside over their case – made his thoughts on the custody arrangement decision clear in a lengthy ruling.
After hearing seven months of testimony from therapists, child-services professionals and others who’ve spent extensive time with the kids, the judge reportedly said he felt them being with their father 50% of the time was in their best interest.
Angie intends to appeal the decision.
Sources: mirror.co.uk, dailymail.co.uk, the-sun.com, radaronline.com
