Angelina Jolie never harbored an insatiable yearning to become an actress. In truth, the Oscar-clad starlet mulled over various alternative career trajectories before her Hollywood debut, one of them being a funeral director. "Isn't it rather sensible?" Jolie jested during her much-anticipated appearance on The Tonight Show in December 2024, marking her first late-night talk show stint in nearly a decade. "My grandfather's demise left me contemplating that there must be a better way. A way to celebrate life, rather than mourn it. Given my unflappable demeanor towards death, I fancied this as an ideal profession. I believed I could enhance the experience, make a tangible impact. It now stands as my contingency plan."
Judging by her extensive filmography and an array of acting accolades, it's evident that her backup strategy will likely remain unused. Nevertheless, the Maria star, who turns 50 on June 4, has conceded to having moments of hesitation about her chosen path. "I might not have become an actress today," Jolie confessed in a December 2023 interview with WSJ. Magazine, clarifying that she was referring to Hollywood's public spectacle. "When I embarked on my journey, the expectation of being so exposed and sharing so much wasn't as prevalent."
Yet, it seems that her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who harbored her own acting dreams, always envisioned Jolie in the industry. "Though she cherished her role as a homemaker, her heart desired me to become an actress," Jolie revealed to W Magazine in January. (Moreover, with a lineage that includes acting legend Jon Voight as her father and brother James Haven also in the profession, it wasn't an unfamiliar path.) "I don't recall making a conscious decision to act. I remember it pleased my mother, and from a young age, I began contributing to household expenses. My mom was my manager; we were a dyad. I aspired to buy her a house and other things."
However, after her mother succumbed to ovarian and breast cancer in 2007, Jolie's bond with acting transformed. "Losing my mom made it challenging for me to act for some time," the Changeling actress added, "as I realized how much it meant to her." Even before her mother's passing, Jolie, who underwent a preventive double mastectomy in 2013 due to her BRCA1 gene mutation, found the perpetual spotlight of the industry unintimidating, a fame that intensified after her 2000 Oscar victory for Girl, Interrupted. "Having grown up amidst Hollywood's glitz, I've never been impressed by it," she elaborated to WSJ. Magazine. "I never saw it as significant or crucial."
Her captivating performances ignited countless conversations among fans, catapulting her to stardom in films such as "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," "The Changeling," and "Maleficent," among others. Equally intriguing was her personal life, which garnered as much attention. After a fleeting marriage to English actor Jonny Lee Miller in the 1990s, Jolie tied the knot with her "Pushing Tin" co-star Billy Bob Thornton in 2000. Their love was marked by tattoo tributes and blood vial necklaces, yet it unravelled after two years, culminating in their divorce finalization in 2003.
Her subsequent romance with Brad Pitt, whom she met on the set of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" while he was still married to Jennifer Aniston, remains a subject less frequently explored. Pitt announced his separation from the "Friends" star in 2005, mere months before the film's release. Over the ensuing decade, Jolie and Pitt expanded their family, with Pitt becoming the father to Jolie's adopted children Maddox (23) and Zahara (20), whom she welcomed in 2002 and 2005, respectively. In 2006, their daughter Shiloh (now affectionately known as Shi) arrived, followed by adopted son Pax (21) in 2007. In 2008, Jolie gave birth to twins Knox and Vivienne, now 16. After nearly a decade together, Brangelina exchanged vows in 2014.
However, two years later, Jolie announced the dissolution of their marriage, amid allegations stemming from an incident on a plane, where she accused Pitt of abusive behavior. Pitt has steadfastly denied these claims, and no charges were filed. Both the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and the FBI closed their respective investigations into the accusations. Though Jolie and Pitt were officially declared single in 2019, their legal battle, encompassing custody of their children and ownership of their French winery Château Miraval, lingered on. It wasn't until 2024 that they finally reached a divorce settlement.
"Frankly, Angelina is exhausted," Jolie's attorney James Simon stated in a December press release obtained by NBC News. "But she is relieved that this particular chapter is closed." As for Pitt, he expressed a rather nonchalant attitude towards the finalization of their divorce. "No, I don’t think it was that major of a thing," the Oscar winner told GQ in a May 2025 cover story. "Just something coming to fruition, legally speaking."
The tumultuous love story of Pitt and Jolie served as prime tabloid material. However, the "Gia" actress has made it abundantly clear that she pays no heed to what the internet surmises about her life. "I’ve been around for so long," she told WSJ. Magazine, "and every conceivable thing has been said."
In the eight years that have elapsed since Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, she has graced the screens in seven films, an accomplishment that, while significant, pales in comparison to the three to five movies she would typically release in a single year during the '90s and early 2000s. Delving into the reason behind Jolie's retreat from the limelight, she shared with WSJ. Magazine, "We had to heal," referencing her and her children without elaborating further. "Certain wounds demanded our attention and care."
Maria, in which Jolie portrayed opera legend Maria Callas, marked her return to starring roles after a three-year hiatus, with Eternals in 2021 being her last (albeit, she also helmed the 2024 film Without Blood behind the camera). Her resurgence before the cameras, she attributed to the maturing stage her children have reached. "They're growing older, becoming more self-reliant," she revealed to The Hollywood Reporter in August. "I'm less needed at home, allowing me to be away for extended periods. Plus, they're now old enough to accompany me on sets. It's a new chapter in our lives, and I'm thrilled to witness them blossom further each day."
Indeed, her children joined her on the set of Maria, with Maddox and Pax taking up roles as production assistants. This isn't surprising, given Jolie's past collaborations with her children, including working with Vivienne to produce the 2024 Broadway adaptation of The Outsiders.
As Hollywood's A-lister stays busy with confirmations of a third Maleficent film in the pipeline, Jolie harbors dreams of relocating away from Los Angeles one day. "I'm here due to my divorce obligations, but once they turn 18, I'll be free to leave," she told The Hollywood Reporter (noting that her twins will reach this milestone in July 2026). "With a large family, one desires privacy, tranquility, and security for them. My current house serves as a sanctuary for raising my children, yet sometimes, this place lacks the humanity I've encountered elsewhere in the world." Upon leaving L.A., she continued, "Cambodia will be a frequent destination. And I'll visit my family members wherever they are scattered across the globe."
Regardless of where Jolie's journey takes her or the diverse paths she may pursue—as a pilot, the founder of fashion label Atelier Jolie, and a dedicated humanitarian—she knows that being a mother remains her most cherished role. "It's my bliss," she confessed to Good Morning America in November. "Take away everything else; nothing else matters."
Looking ahead to the next decade, Jolie is filled with anticipation. "Perhaps it's because... I don't know... my mother's life was cut short, so aging for me signifies victory rather than sorrow," she shared with British Vogue in 2021. "I embrace it. I'm excited for my fifties—I feel I'll truly come into my own during that decade."
