Brad Pitt desperate for gay role

Brad Pitt is rumoured to be searching for a gay role to cash in on the popularity of Brokeback Mountain.

The Hollywood heartthrob has played against type before, but is looking for a more challenging role, and one that has become less of a career-killer after Brokeback Mountain's success.

A source told The Sun: "Brad has asked his people to find him a script to play a gay man.

"He wants it to be a story that appeals to both men and women and he wants it to be the edgiest work he's done. He's seen the critical acclaim that Brokeback Mountain has won and he wants a piece of it.

"Brad knows it would be seen as shocking to take on a gay role because he's seen as such a heart-throb. But he has never shied away from taking on controversial films, and he has often chosen to do smaller, more challenging movies."

The closest movie-goers have come to seeing a gay Brad to date was in Interview With The Vampire. The story hinted at romance between Brad's character and fellow vampire Tom Cruise.