The Hollywood star has six children from her relationship with Brad Pitt: 22-year-old Maddox, 20-year-old Pax, 19-year-old Zahara, 18-year-old Shiloh, and 16-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox. The three eldest are adopted, while the younger ones are biological. The couple split in 2016, and since then, Angelina has not remarried; her children come first, her career is second, and everything else is third.
The actress spoke about the lessons motherhood has taught her. “There are too many to count or to name just one. But the moment you become a parent, you will never be first again. Your life is meant for something else, and that’s a beautiful feeling,” Jolie shared.
The Oscar-winning actress involves her children in her creative projects to broaden their horizons and help them figure out their futures. Vivienne was her main assistant in the production of the play “The Outsiders,” where Angie served as a producer. She considers the prestigious Tony Award won by the production a well-deserved accolade for both of them.
Maddox and Pax participated in the filming of “Maria,” a movie about opera singer Maria Callas, where they alternately played the role of their star mom’s personal assistant. Angelina discussed her work on the autobiographical film, explaining that director Pablo Larraín expected her to prepare diligently for the role of the iconic opera diva. For seven months, she took Italian lessons, practiced singing, and studied the history of opera.
“It was much more than just understanding Maria Callas and being able to portray her. Music was her life, her relationship with her voice and body, her ability to sing, her presence on stage, and her communication with the audience. It was the key to understanding her,” Jolie told CR Fashion Book.
According to the actress, she would sit for hours in the dark, listening to compositions performed by the renowned singer. This allowed her not only to understand and internalize Callas but also to recognize her vulnerability. Singing, which Angelina had never pursued professionally, became a kind of therapy for her. “I didn’t realize I needed it. I had no idea how much I was holding inside and not letting out. The task was not technical; it was an emotional experience—finding my voice, being in my body, expressing myself. You have to give every part of yourself. When opera singers express pain, it’s not just a little; it’s the deepest depth. It’s everything you have,” said the former wife of Brad Pitt.
Speaking about her mantras, the star stated that she doesn’t have a specific motto, but above all, she values freedom for herself and others. At the same time, the artist still feels like a punk and a rebel, as she prefers to question rather than follow blindly. “For me, it’s important to resist what I’m told about how to think, how to dress, and how to feel,” Angelina Jolie added.
