Angelina Jolie seen in New York City on December 2, 2024. Getty Images
Angelina Jolie, one of Hollywood's most renowned actors, has revealed that her path to acting wasn’t driven by her own dreams, but by her mother’s passion. In a recent interview with W magazine promoting her film Maria, Jolie opened up about how she entered the entertainment industry.
Jolie shared that her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, had always dreamed of becoming an actress, but circumstances in her personal life led her to give up that aspiration. "She pursued acting, but by the time my mom was 25, she was divorced with two kids and she decided to focus her life solely on motherhood," Jolie explained. Despite the change in her career, Bertrand made sure to let Jolie know that motherhood brought her immense joy. However, she still wished for her daughter to follow in her footsteps and become an actress.
The story behind Jolie’s entry into acting was deeply tied to her mother’s wishes. "I don’t remember making the choice. I remember it made my mom happy," she recalled. Her mother took on the role of managing her career, with Jolie saying, "My mom was my manager, and we were a team." As a young adult, Jolie had a strong desire to give back to her mother, even financially. "I always wanted to buy her a house, and I started to pay the bills," she added. However, after her mother passed away in 2007 after battling ovarian cancer for eight years, Jolie found it harder to continue acting. "When my mom passed, it was harder for me to be an actress because I realized how much of it was for her."
Now, as a mother of six herself, Jolie has shifted her focus from fulfilling her mother’s dream to helping her children find their own paths in life. "I worry more that people aren’t finding themselves and something they love. I think that’s more dangerous, to walk so tentatively through life that you don’t take a risk," she said. Rather than pushing her children toward a specific career, Jolie encourages them to follow their passions, even if it means failing along the way. "I’d rather they be out there trying and failing than not pushing and being passionate."
In the interview, Jolie also shared that one of her hidden talents is flying planes. She proudly revealed that she owns a Cirrus aircraft and that one of her sons has followed in her footsteps and now flies. "I don’t worry about him being up in the air," she said, showing her support for his choices.
Jolie’s perspective on life emphasizes the importance of passion and following one’s heart. With her own journey shaped by her mother’s dreams, she now aims to let her children explore their own dreams without pressure, teaching them to embrace risks and pursue what they love.
