Angelina Jolie’s time away from acting has made her “more grateful” for her career and being part of a “creative world”.
Angelina Jolie’s time away from acting has made her “more grateful” for her career.
The 49-year-old actress hasn’t appeared in a film since 2021’s ‘Eternals’ but she has made her comeback as opera singer Maria Callas in ‘Maria’ and she admitted her break made her appreciate being part of a “creative world” even more.
speaking at a press conference for the movie at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday (29.08.24), she said: “I’ve needed to be home more with my family these last years, and in that time, I’ve maybe become more grateful to have the opportunity to … be in this creative world that we are all fortunate to be a part of.”
The ‘Maleficent’ star – who has Maddox, 23, Pax, 20, Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and 16-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, with exc-husband Brad Pitt – was “terribly nervous” about singing in ‘Maria’ but thanked her sons for helping put her at ease.
She said: “I was terribly nervous; I spent almost seven months training. My first time singing, I remember being so nervous. My sons were there and they helped to block the door [so] that nobody else was coming in, and I was shaky.
“And [director Pablo Larraín], in his decency, started me in a small room and ended me in La Scala. So he gave me time to grow. I was frightened to live up to [Callas].”
Angelina joked that, after making the movie, she might even get involved in karaoke nights in the future.
Asked if she has a favourite karaoke song, she quipped: “I didn’t sing before this [movie] so I haven’t done karaoke, but now maybe I have a few!”
In December, Angelina admitted she wouldn’t have opted to become an actress if she was starting her career now.
She told WSJ. magazine: “I wouldn’t be an actress today.
“When I was starting out, it wasn’t as much of an expectation to be as public, to share so much.”
The ‘Girl, Interrupted’ star – who is the daughter of actor Jon Voight and late actress Marcheline Bertrand – also admitted she has “never” been “very impressed” with Hollywood after growing up around it.
She said: “I grew up in quite a shallow place. Of all the places in the world, Hollywood is not a healthy place. So you seek authenticity.
“I never bought into it as significant or important.”
Angelina Jolie feels ‘more grateful’ to be working again
