In an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, The Big Chill star Meg Tilly reveals how she put her family first after stepping away from the big screen, and how it feels to be back (with Brad Pitt!).

“I stopped acting for 18 years to raise my children, because I couldn’t do it all,” the 57-year-old confessed.

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And as a stay-at-home mom to Emily and David Zinnemann — with her first husband, producer Tim Zinnemann — now in their 30s, and son Will Firth, 26, with former beau actor Colin Firth, she was busy writing seven books!

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Brad and Meg in War Machine.

Now, she’s heading straight back to the A-list playing Brad’s wife in the new Netflix movie War Machine. “I didn’t expect that I’d be able to come back [to acting], really,” she confessed to Closer. “And I really loved being on that set.”

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“Hollywood can mess people up, so I was shocked and moved by what a kind and decent person [Brad] was,” Meg continued.

“He’s such a gentleman, so thoughtful and went out of this way to make me feel comfortable,” Meg revealed. “I’ve worked with wonderful actors, but he’s the most generous in terms of being there behind the scenes. He gives 110 percent.”

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Meg at the War Machine premiere in May 2017.

So what made Meg go back to acting? “My youngest left home,” she explained. “That’s what you raise your children for, but it was a shock. I was used to the hustle and bustle of my children, making meals and driving lessons.”

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“Everyone said that when your children leave, all the love you were giving them, you can give to yourself and do what you want… and I thought, ‘What do I want?'” she said.

For the full interview with Meg, pick up the new issue of Closer Weekly, on newsstands now!

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