Angelina Jolie opened up about how having children “saved” her from being pulled into what she called “darker” places amid her very public divorce from actor Brad Pitt and the custody battle that ensued for years afterward.
During the 48-year-old actress’ interview for Vogue’s digital cover story, the “Eternals” star and mom of six said focusing on being a parent kept her from going “under” personally because she “wanted to live for them.” Jolie and the 59-year-old actor share six kids together: Maddox, 22, Pax, 19, Zahara, 18, Shiloh, 17, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 15.
“I was 26 when I became a mother,” Jolie said. “My entire life changed. Having children saved me and taught me to be in this world differently.”
“I think, recently, I would’ve gone under in a much darker way had I not wanted to live for them,” she added. “They’re better than me, because you want your children to be.”
“Of course I’m the mother, and hopefully that safe place for them and that stability,” the superstar actress continued. “But I’m also the one that they laugh at and I see them taking over so many different aspects of our family.”
Angelina Jolie started taking less film roles “seven years ago, only taking jobs that didn’t require long shoots." Why? "We had a lot of healing to do."
“I feel a bit down these days. I don’t feel like I’ve been myself for a decade, in a way."https://t.co/uiWKmmr5dv
— Variety (@Variety) September 27, 2023
The “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” star also admitted she’s struggled lately to still understand “who I am at 48. I guess I’m in transition as a person.”
“I feel a bit down these days. I don’t feel like I’ve been myself for a decade, in a way, which I don’t want to get into,” she added, noting that “seven years ago” she started “only taking jobs that didn’t require long shoots.”
“We [as a family] had a lot of healing to do,” the Hollywood star continued. “We’re still finding our footing.”
Pitt and Jolie first met on the set of their film “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” while the “Fight Club” star was married to Jennifer Aniston. His divorce to the “Friends” star went through in 2005. Jolie and Pitt started dating and finally tied the knot in 2014.
In 2016, Jolie filed for divorce from the “Troy” star and the two were legally declared single in 2019. Two years later, they were finally granted joint custody of their six kids. However, one month later, the judge’s decision was thrown out and currently remains unresolved, Page Six noted.