Angelina Jolie Opens Up About Rediscovery Through Her Daughters
Angelina Jolie has credited her three young adult daughters with helping her rediscover her sense of self following her highly publicized divorce from Brad Pitt. In an exclusive interview with Yahoo Entertainment for her upcoming film Couture, the Oscar-winning actress revealed that her daughters have played a pivotal role in her personal transformation.
"I've come around a little bit to being more of the person I used to be," Jolie said. "I'm discovering something now that my daughters are older now and they're talking to me as young women."
Jolie shares six children with Pitt: daughters Zahara (21), Shiloh (20), and Vivienne (17), along with sons Maddox (24), Pax (22), and Knox (17). The actress explained that watching her daughters navigate young adulthood has been a mirror for her own journey.
"I'm seeing what I want for them and I'm seeing what I don't want them to lose and what I want them to hold on to," she added. "It's kind of reminding me what I may have lost. And I think in some way they're bringing me back to my old self and my desire for them to have all of the strength and openness and softness and faith and ferocity."
This marks a significant shift for Jolie, who previously told Variety that she felt she had lost her "fighting spirit" after the messy divorce and protracted custody battle. The couple split in 2016 after two years of marriage, following a decade-long relationship that began in 2005. The divorce proceedings took eight years to finalize, casting a long shadow over Jolie's personal and professional life.
How Jolie's Children Have Stepped Up
In the years following the divorce, several of Jolie and Pitt's children have taken steps to distance themselves from their father's surname. Maddox and Shiloh filed legal petitions to drop "Pitt" from their names, while Zahara and Vivienne have done so informally. This collective action underscores the strong bond between Jolie and her children, as well as their solidarity with her.
"They kind of want me to now not just be mom," Jolie reflected. "There's a different room for me to be that woman again, that's not just a mom." This sentiment echoes a broader theme in Jolie's life: the struggle to balance motherhood with her own identity and career aspirations.
Jolie's Shift Back to Acting
After largely stepping away from acting before her divorce to focus on directing, humanitarian work, and raising her six children, Jolie realized that returning to the screen was the best way to stay close to home. Her new movie, Couture, set for release on June 26, marks her return to acting in a leading role.
The film follows a character who receives a breast cancer diagnosis after a tumultuous divorce—a plot that resonates deeply with Jolie's own experiences. In 2013, she underwent a preventive double mastectomy after learning she carried a gene mutation that put her at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, died from ovarian cancer in 2007.
"I think the shock, the push to move," Jolie said of the script. "There was something about it that just felt so realistic, even in reading it."
A New Chapter at 51
Now at 51, Jolie is embracing a new chapter of her life. "Things are changing, but in a way I didn't expect," she explained. "It doesn't feel like I'm 51 and starting to think of being older. I'm thinking I have to live again. Be free again in a way that maybe life has broken me a little bit."
This candid reflection highlights the resilience that has defined Jolie's career and personal life. From her early days as a fearless actress in films like Girl, Interrupted (for which she won an Oscar) and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, to her later work as a director and humanitarian, Jolie has always been a figure of strength and transformation.
Background and Career Highlights
Angelina Jolie's career spans over three decades, with iconic roles in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Changeling, Salt, and Maleficent. She has also directed several films, including In the Land of Blood and Honey, Unbroken, and First They Killed My Father. Her humanitarian work includes serving as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and later Special Envoy, advocating for refugees and women's rights worldwide.
The actress has been open about the challenges of balancing a high-profile career with raising a large family. Her decision to step back from acting was motivated by a desire to be present for her children. Now, with her older children becoming independent, Jolie feels a renewed sense of possibility.
The Role of Her Daughters
Jolie's daughters have become her confidantes and catalysts for growth. Zahara, who studies at Spelman College, is described as a strong woman with a sharp mind. Shiloh, who has expressed interest in fashion and directing, is forging her own path. Vivienne, the youngest, is still in her teens but already showing a budding independence. Together, they have helped Jolie reconnect with her own youthful spirit.
"I think they kind of want me to now not just be mom," Jolie reiterated. "There's a different room for me to be that woman again, that's not just a mom." This reinvention is a theme that runs through her life and work, and it is one that fans and critics alike will watch with interest as Couture hits theaters later this month.
As Jolie steps back into the spotlight, she brings with her the wisdom of her experiences and the support of her children. Her journey serves as a powerful reminder that even after major life disruptions, rediscovery is possible—often with the help of those closest to us.
Couture will be released in theaters nationwide on June 26. The film also stars other notable actors, though details about the full cast remain under wraps. Jolie's performance is already generating Oscar buzz, with early reviews praising her emotional depth and vulnerability.
Source: AOL.com News