Given the 29-year age gap, would it be any surprise if Brad Pitt and his younger girlfriend are feeling a little, well, stale?

But while issues of time are certainly forcing the 61-year-old Hollywood actor to do ‘everything he can’ to ‘keep the love alive’ with Ines de Ramon, 32 – it’s not for the reason one might think.

You see, Pitt has been shooting his latest movie in New Zealand while Ines, a jewelry executive, remains at their home in Los Angeles. And it seems the 20-hour time difference is taking a toll.

‘Brad is struggling to keep the love alive,’ the source tells the Daily Mail.

‘He is doing everything he can to keep Ines happy. That means he is flying her to New Zealand to visit and showering her with special surprises and gifts. He is really in love with her and wants to keep the relationship as solid as can be.’

Brad Pitt, left, is doing ‘everything he can’ to ‘keep the love alive’ with Ines de Ramon, right

Canadian actress Anna Lambe, 24, is starring with the Hollywood actor in his new survival thriller Heart Of The Beast

The couple, who went public with their relationship in November 2022, will mark their third anniversary this spring.

And, our insider adds, Pitt is hoping they make the milestone.

‘They are very much in love and happy to be in a healthy relationship,’ the source says. ‘Brad loves being with a woman who is not an actress because there is no competition at all, they have their own careers and there is zero jealousy.’

Indeed, a relationship with a non-celebrity has marked a stark shift for Pitt whose previous partners have included A-list actresses Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and his wife Angelina Jolie, whom he divorced after ten years in December.

Pitt is not Ramon’s first famous boyfriend, either. She was previously married to The Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley, but they divorced after five years in November.

Pitt’s current shoot marks the longest time the couple have spent apart since moving in together in his LA mansion last year.

The actor bought the luxury $8.3million mansion in the exclusive Los Feliz suburb in 2023, and has decked it out with a sauna, massage table and solar panels.

The couple, who went public with their relationship in November 2022, will mark their third anniversary this spring

Pitt famously finalized his divorce from his ex-wife Angelina Jolie in December

Since March, Pitt has been on New Zealand’s south island to shoot survival thriller, Heart Of The Beast.

The film, which is being co-produced by his Plan B company, also stars the 24-year-old Canadian actress Anna Lambe.

Pitt plays a former US Navy SEAL who becomes stranded in the wilderness with his retired ‘combat dog’ after a plane crash. It is not yet known what role Lambe, who starred in the TV show True Detective, will play.

The actor has already been pictured on set wearing cargo pants and a camouflage-print top as he stood near a fire pit and bright yellow tent.

He was also seen kayaking across a lake in a green canoe before filming scenes at the campsite. At one point, Pitt was seen chatting to the film and camera crew before getting back into character.

Filming locations include the Kiwi resort Queenstown and the world-famous fjord, Milford Sound, which will be used as ‘stand-ins’ for Alaska where the film is meant to be set.

Pitt is expected to be back in the United States in around six weeks to start promoting his new Formula One movie F1, which also stars Oscar-winner Javier Bardem and The Crown actor Tobias Menzies.

Set in the high-stakes world of Formula 1 motor racing, Pitt plays a champion driver who comes out of retirement to challenge a young up-and-comer.