Brad Pitt smartens up and rolls back the years as he gets rid of his scraggly beard for Tree Of Life premiere with Angelina Jolie

Millions of his female fans around the world despaired when Brad Pitt first stepped out with a scraggly grey beard earlier this year.

But now they can celebrate, as the actor has clearly decided the facial hair is doing him no favours.

The 47-year-old actor arrived at the Los Angeles premiere of his new movie The Tree Of Life sporting a clean-shaven look which succeeded in making him look years younger.

That's better! Brad Pitt sported a clean-shaven look at the premiere of The Tree Of Life in Los Angeles last night

What a difference: Brad, who attended last night's premiere with partner Angelina Jolie, appeared to have rolled back the years after getting rid of his beard (seen right at the LA Kung Fu Panda 2 premiere)

And partner Angelina Jolie was obviously also thrilled with the results, cuddling up to her beau on the red carpet.

The actress turned heads in an asymmetrical red Jenny Packham dress, which set off her stunning features and glowing skin.

However, the cut of the outfit did little to hide the Hollywood star's razor sharp, jutting collar bone.

Scraggly: Brad's beard has been causing concern among his millions of female fans

Angelina, 35, decided to go to Brad's Los Angeles event over the New York premiere of her own animated film, Kung Fu Panda II.

She did attend the Hollywood red carpet for the flick over the weekend, along with Brad and their brood.

But she left the promotional duties to co-stars Jack Black and Lucy Liu yesterday in favour of Brad's big night.

Super-slim: But the cut of her red dress did little to disguise her razor sharp collar bone

Starlet: Angelina missed the New York premiere of her own animated movie Kung Fu Panda II to attend the screening of Brad's film instead

Other names at the event included his co-star Jessica Chastain, who opted for a full-length turquoise gown and dramatic heels.

Sean Penn, who also appears in the movie, was understood to have skipped the event.

The Tree of Life recently won top honours at the Cannes Film Festival. The jury awarded its top prize to the flick, which was directed by Terrence Malick.

Broody? Angelina looked thrilled as she met a very young fan at the premiere

Malick was not present to accept the Palme d'Or when Robert De Niro announced the winner at the ceremony.

In the film the Pitt plays a strict father of three sons being raised in 1950s suburbia.

His son Jack is played by Sean Penn, who looks back on his childhood from adulthood. Chastain plays the mother in the film.

Hand in hand: Brad's friend, British director Guy Ritchie attended with his pregnant girlfriend Jacqui Ainsley

Pitt and Penn do not actually appear in any scenes together because Pitt plays the 'daddy' in the movie with a young actor playing a youthful version of Penn's character.

The art house movie, which Pitt funded, produced and starred in, received a decidedly mixed reception when it was shown to the press in Cannes.

At a press conference afterwards Pitt was left to answer questions by the absent director Malick, to the obvious annoyance of the crowd.

Critics were divided by the movie and Pitt was actually booed following the screening in Cannes.

Snub: Angelina attended the LA premiere of Brad's film instead of the New York premiere of her movie Kung Fu Panda 2 with Jack Black and Lucy Liu

Daily Mail critic Baz Bamigboye wrote: 'The film's not a flop by any means. It's a visual sensation.'

But he cautioned: 'It's not the worst movie ever made but it is a lumbering mess.'

Elsewhere the industry bible Variety predicted: 'This inescapably divisive picture could captivate the zeitgeist for a spell.'

The Hollywood Reporter added: 'A unique film that will split opinions every which way.'

Meanwhile, Brad has said being a father has influenced what kind of films he chooses to make.

Check out the heels: Brad's co-star Jessica Chastain slipped into a turquoise number, teamed with very dramatic heels

Pretty in pink: Kimberly Whalen, another star of the film, along with U.S. TV host Samantha Harris and American actress Jessica Weixler

He told The Sun: 'Becoming a father certainly changed the way I choose films because I'm very aware they are going to see them one day.

'I want them to be proud of their dad in the end, when they grow up and figure out what we actually do for a living.'

Brad also said making The Tree Of Life made him appreciate his family life even more.

He said: 'It's so obvious to me that when I come home my kids are aware of everything that's going on. So it's quite important for me not to put my frustrations on them or bring them to the door. In the film it's the exact opposite of that.

'It's a very sad man who feels embittered by his situation, doesn't feel like he's able to get ahead, always feels like he's on the losing end and feels quite oppressed by his surroundings and predicament.'