[responsivevoice_button voice=”US English Female” buttontext=”Listen to Post”]Angelina Jolie is one of the most influential and multifaceted stars of her generation, known not only for her exceptional acting talent but also for her humanitarian work, advocacy, and directorial efforts. With her striking beauty, intense performances, and strong commitment to social causes, Jolie has become one of Hollywood’s most recognized and admired figures. Here’s an in-depth look at her life, career, and legacy.
Early Life and Family Background
Angelina Jolie Voight was born on June 4, 1975, in Los Angeles, California, to two well-known actors: Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. Her father, Jon Voight, was an Academy Award-winning actor, and her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, was an actress and humanitarian. Jolie’s parents divorced when she was very young, and she was primarily raised by her mother, who encouraged her to pursue the arts.
Jolie has one brother, James Haven, who is also an actor. She attended several schools in the Los Angeles area and later moved to New York City to study acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. Throughout her youth, Jolie struggled with feelings of alienation, depression, and an eating disorder, and her rebellious behavior sometimes led to a strained relationship with her father. She has spoken openly about her difficult childhood and how her experiences shaped her later activism and creative work.
Early Career and Breakthrough in Hollywood
Jolie’s career in acting began in the mid-1990s. Her first major role came in 1995 with the film Hackers, where she played a rebellious computer whiz. The film became a cult classic, but it wasn’t until 1998 that she gained real recognition for her talent. That year, she starred in Gia, a biographical film about the life of supermodel Gia Carangi, who struggled with addiction and died at a young age. Jolie’s performance as the troubled model was widely praised, earning her a Golden Globe Award and setting the stage for her Hollywood career.
In 1999, she won her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Girl, Interrupted (1999), where she portrayed Lisa Rowe, a mentally unstable patient in a psychiatric hospital. The film, based on the memoir of Susanna Kaysen, starred Winona Ryder as the central character. Jolie’s performance earned her widespread recognition, and she quickly became known for her ability to portray intense, emotionally complex characters.
Rise to International Stardom
Angelina Jolie’s fame skyrocketed in the early 2000s, and she became one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Her roles in action films like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) and its sequel Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003) made her an international action star. In Tomb Raider, she played the iconic video game heroine, Lara Croft, a role that highlighted both her athleticism and her ability to portray a strong, independent character. The films were commercially successful and solidified her position as a global superstar.
Around the same time, Jolie also starred in Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), alongside Brad Pitt. The film, a blend of action and comedy, became one of the highest-grossing films of the year, and it was during the filming that Jolie and Pitt’s romantic relationship began. Their highly publicized romance captivated the media and earned them the nickname “Brangelina.”
Humanitarian Work and Advocacy
As her career soared, Angelina Jolie began to devote a significant portion of her time to humanitarian causes. Her work as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) began in 2001, and she later became a Special Envoy in 2012. Jolie’s humanitarian efforts have taken her to numerous conflict zones, including Cambodia, Sudan, and Iraq, where she has witnessed firsthand the effects of war, displacement, and human rights abuses.
Jolie’s advocacy has focused primarily on refugee rights, women’s rights, and the protection of children in conflict zones. She has used her fame to raise awareness about the plight of refugees and displaced persons around the world, and she has spoken out about the need for international support and action to address these crises. Her humanitarian work has earned her numerous accolades, including being named an honorary Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (DCMG) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012.
Personal Life: Relationships and Family
Angelina Jolie’s personal life has often been in the public eye. She has been married three times. Her first marriage was to actor Jonny Lee Miller in 1996, whom she met on the set of Hackers. They divorced in 1999. Jolie’s second marriage was to actor Billy Bob Thornton, whom she married in 2000. Their marriage was highly publicized, and they made headlines for their eccentric behavior, including wearing vials of each other’s blood. The marriage ended in divorce in 2003.
However, it was her relationship with Brad Pitt that dominated the media for over a decade. Jolie and Pitt were married in 2014, and together they had six children—three biological children (Shiloh, born 2006, and twins Knox and Vivienne, born 2008) and three adopted children (Maddox, Pax, and Zahara). Their large, blended family was often photographed by the press, and the couple became one of the most famous celebrity pairs in the world.
In 2016, Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt, and the split was highly publicized, with both parties facing legal battles over custody of their children. Despite the public nature of their breakup, Jolie has focused on maintaining a relationship with her children and has emphasized the importance of family in her life.
Directorial Career and Later Projects
Jolie’s career took a new direction in the 2010s when she began directing films. In 2011, she made her directorial debut with In the Land of Blood and Honey, a war drama set during the Bosnian War. The film, which explores the effects of the war on a romance between a Bosnian Muslim woman and a Serbian soldier, received mixed reviews but demonstrated Jolie’s commitment to telling important and complex stories.
Jolie’s next directorial project, Unbroken (2014), was a biographical film about Olympic athlete and World War II hero Louis Zamperini. The film was widely praised for its direction and the performances of its cast, and it earned Jolie her first nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director.
In 2017, Jolie directed First They Killed My Father, a Cambodian film based on the memoir of Loung Ung, a survivor of the Khmer Rouge genocide. The film was well-received, particularly for its emotional storytelling and its focus on the horrors of war from the perspective of a child.
In 2019, Jolie returned to acting in the fantasy film Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, reprising her role as the iconic Disney villain. The film was a sequel to her 2014 hit Maleficent and was another commercial success.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
Angelina Jolie is often regarded as one of the most powerful and influential women in Hollywood. She has redefined the role of a female action star, bringing depth and complexity to the characters she portrays. Her performances in films such as Girl, Interrupted and A Mighty Heart (2007), along with her roles in action-packed franchises like Tomb Raider and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, have showcased her remarkable range as an actress.
In addition to her acting career, Jolie’s humanitarian work has had a lasting impact, particularly in the areas of refugees and human rights. She has become a symbol of advocacy, using her fame and platform to draw attention to global crises and to fight for marginalized groups.
Jolie’s personal life, including her marriages, children, and philanthropic endeavors, continues to capture the public’s imagination. As both a public figure and a private individual, she has remained committed to her beliefs and values, often choosing roles and projects that reflect her passion for social change.
Conclusion
Angelina Jolie’s career is a blend of acting excellence, creative direction, and meaningful humanitarian work. She has consistently pushed boundaries both as an actress and a director, delivering performances that have earned her critical acclaim while using her platform to advocate for the vulnerable and oppressed. Her legacy as a powerful force in both the entertainment industry and global activism will continue to inspire generations to come.
