Angelina

After one of the most tumultuous periods of her life, Angelina Jolie is embracing new beginnings and her playful side

Angelina Jolie has always refused to be defined by the conventional rules of Hollywood. One of the world’s few genuine superstars, the actor, director, producer, activist and mother still remains something of a mystery, despite having lived her life so publicly for so long. For the 43-year-old, the past few years have been a period of change, uncertainty – and a new beginning. “I’ve had my ups and downs,” she says. “I guess I am a little bit stronger.”

Now, her focus is on rediscovering “a little bit of the old me”.

“A sense of wild and a sense of unconventional is something I always embrace and try to continue to embrace,” she says. “But maybe now that my kids are growing up, I’m starting to realise that my own sense of play has been put on hold for a while. And maybe them hitting their teens is going to bring out a little more fun in Mum.”

Family first

The world has watched as Angelina’s family – Maddox, 16, Pax, 14, Zahara, 13, Shiloh, 11, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 9 – has grown, and followed as she found love with actor Brad Pitt. Together for 12 years, the pair shocked us all when they announced in 2016 that their marriage was over.

Much like the early stages of their relationship, their separation and subsequent custody battle was very public, but at home it’s been a different story. “Growing up, I was very worried about my mother,” says Angelina. “[So] I don’t want my children to be worried about me. I think it’s very important to cry in the shower and not in front of them. They need to know that everything’s going to be all right, even when you’re not sure it is.”