3:28pm UK, Tuesday April 20, 2004

Brad Pitt says he hated giving up smoking - but is happy now that he did.

Brad: 'It was killing me'

The Hollywood hearthrob was forced to quit for his latest movie, Troy.

Pitt spent months building himself up to play the role of the legendary Greek hero Achilles.

Her told the German magazine Cinema: "I had to quit smoking.

"I'm now happy about it because these things were killing me. But at first I was really missing my cigarettes.

"The withdrawal was so hard that I was ready to kill - which was actually helpful for the role I was playing," he added.

Pitt revealed he was put through an arduous routine by his fitness trainer.

"The trainer warned me that every day would be unpleasant. He was right."

Troy goes on release in Britain and the US in May.