For the first time, Angelina Jolie publicly displayed her mastectomy scars in a photo shoot with Time France, a move that the 50-year-old Hollywood icon described as a way to share her experience with "many women I love." "I am always moved when I see other women share their scars," she told the magazine, her voice resonating with empathy and strength. "I wanted to join them, knowing that TIME France would be sharing information about breast health, prevention, and knowledge about breast cancer."
In 2013, the Maleficent actress had revealed that she had undergone a double mastectomy due to her genetic predisposition to cancer. "I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy," Angelina wrote in an op-ed piece for the New York Times. "But it is one I am very happy that I made. My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent." She added, "I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer."
In the new interview, the Oscar-winning actress also encouraged other women to undergo cancer screenings, urging them to be proactive in their healthcare journeys. "Every woman should always be able to determine her own healthcare journey and have the information she needs to make informed choices: genetic testing and screening should be accessible and affordable for women with clear risk factors or a significant family history," she told Time France.
"When I shared my experience in 2013, it was to encourage informed choices," she added. "Healthcare decisions must be personal, and women must have the information and support they need to make those choices. Access to screening and care should not depend on financial resources or where someone lives." Her words echo the importance of breaking down barriers and empowering women to take control of their health, regardless of their circumstances.
