No Cannes do for Brad as new baby is ‘imminent’

BRAD Pitt sent an email to the Cannes Film Festival yesterday saying he was unable to attend because of the “imminent arrival” of his new baby.

Henri Behar, who moderates Cannes’ news conferences, read a message from Pitt, who has been in Namibia with his Mr & Mrs Smith co-star, Angelina Jolie, awaiting the birth of the couple’s first child.

“With the imminent arrival of the newest addition to our family, I am unable to join Alejandro, Cate, Gael and the rest of the cast and crew” in introducing his new film, Babel, the 42-year-old actor said in the message.

“I am tremendously proud of Babel and want to congratulate everyone involved for this great achievement,” Pitt said.

Jolie already has an adopted four-year-old son, and an adopted 16-month-old daughter.

They have reportedly pre-sold the first photograph of their newborn baby for over $3 million to a US magazine, with the money going to a UNICEF charity. Jolie is a goodwill ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.