Angelina Jolie believes that the contemporary expectation for actors to extensively share their lives would have dissuaded her from pursuing an acting career if she were starting out today.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, she noted that during her early days in the industry, there wasn’t as much pressure to be highly public and disclose personal details.
Reflecting on her upbringing in the Hollywood showbiz milieu as the child of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, Jolie conveyed a lack of reverence for the environment.
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“Because I grew up around Hollywood, I was never very impressed with it,” she said “emphasizing that she never considered it to be particularly significant or crucial. Jolie attributed her inclination toward political and social causes to her upbringing, stating, “I grew up in quite a shallow place. Hollywood is not a healthy place, so you seek authenticity.”
Discussing her affinity for spending time with refugees and survivors, Jolie highlighted the strength and humanity that arise from overcoming life’s challenges. She revealed that a significant portion of her closest friends, about four out of six women, are individuals who have experienced war and conflict.
Touching upon her separation from former husband Brad Pitt, Jolie mentioned the impact it had on her freedom to live and travel as she pleased after the divorce. She expressed a desire to relocate to her home in Cambodia when circumstances allow. The couple separated in 2016, and their divorce proceedings have been marred by a protracted legal dispute. The involvement of a private judge in their child custody arrangement was terminated in 2021 due to an undeclared conflict of interest. In 2022, Pitt initiated legal action to prevent Jolie from selling her share of their French winery, while Jolie countered with allegations of abuse against Pitt and two of their children.
