Top Interesting facts about Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie is a name synonymous with Hollywood glamour, humanitarian efforts, and powerful acting performances. Over the years, she has evolved from a young actress with star potential into one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry and beyond.

Here are some interesting facts about Angelina Jolie, one of Hollywood’s most influential actresses and humanitarians:

1. Name Origin: Jolie is actually Angelina’s middle name, meaning “pretty.” Her real last name is Voight, but she distanced herself from it due to a strained relationship with her father, Jon Voight.
2. Ancestry: Angelina has Slovak and German heritage from her father and Franco-Canadian, Dutch, and German ancestry from her mother. She has also mentioned having Iroquois ancestry through her mother.
3. Dark Past: In her youth, Jolie experimented with various drugs, including cocaine, LSD, heroin, and ecstasy. She has openly acknowledged her troubled past.
4. Knife Collection: Jolie began collecting knives at the age of 12, a hobby inspired by a gift from her mother. She shares this interest with her son Maddox.
5. Self-Harm: As a child, Jolie engaged in self-harm to feel alive, which once led to a hospitalization after she accidentally nicked an artery.
6. First Love: At 14, Jolie’s first love was allowed to live with her and her mother. The relationship lasted two years and inspired her to pursue acting after the breakup.
7. Engagement Ring: Brad Pitt spent $250,000 on a custom-made engagement ring for Jolie, designed in collaboration with jeweler Robert Procop over the course of a year.
8. Children: Jolie has six children, three of whom are adopted. Initially, she didn’t want biological children, but Brad Pitt influenced her decision.
9. Preventive Surgeries: Due to a high genetic risk of cancer, Jolie underwent surgeries to remove her breasts and ovaries, reducing her cancer risk from 87% to 5%.
10. High Earnings: Jolie was the third actress to earn $20 million for a single film, during the filming of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, where she met Brad Pitt.
11. Pilot’s License: As a UN Goodwill Ambassador, Jolie earned a pilot’s license in 2004 to assist in humanitarian efforts. She finds solitude in the cockpit.
12. Rule of Thirds: Jolie follows a financial principle where she spends one-third of her income, donates one-third, and saves one-third.
13. Twins’ First Photos: The first photos of her twins, Vivienne and Knox, were sold for $14 million, with the proceeds going to the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.
14. Interest in Coffins: As a child, Jolie was fascinated by coffins and once aspired to become a funeral director.
15. Performing Stunts: Jolie is known for performing her own stunts, completing 80% of her stunts in Lara Croft and 99% in Salt.
16. Conflict with Johnny Depp: Jolie had a public fallout with Johnny Depp during the filming of The Tourist in 2010, though the film still grossed over $278 million and earned three Golden Globe nominations.

Oscar Winner

Angelina Jolie won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Girl, Interrupted” (1999). Her portrayal of the troubled Lisa Rowe was widely praised and marked her as one of Hollywood’s most talented actresses.

Humanitarian Work

Jolie is known for her extensive humanitarian efforts. She has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) since 2001 and was promoted to Special Envoy in 2012. Her work has taken her to over 30 countries where she has advocated for the rights of refugees and displaced people.

Directorial Career

In addition to her acting career, Jolie is also an accomplished director. She made her directorial debut with “In the Land of Blood and Honey” (2011), a film about the Bosnian War. She has since directed several other films, including “Unbroken” (2014) and “First They Killed My Father” (2017), the latter of which was based on a memoir about the Cambodian genocide.

Angelina’s Family

Jolie is the daughter of actor Jon Voight and actress Marcheline Bertrand. She has six children, three of whom are adopted. Her children are Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne. Jolie has often spoken about the importance of family in her life and has been praised for her role as a mother.

• Marriage and Divorce with Billy Bob Thornton: Before her relationship with Brad Pitt, Jolie was married to actor Billy Bob Thornton. Their marriage was famously unconventional, with the couple wearing vials of each other’s blood around their necks. Their intense relationship lasted from 2000 to 2003, ending in a high-profile divorce.
• The “Brangelina” Saga: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt became one of Hollywood’s most famous couples after meeting on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2004. Although Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston at the time, the chemistry between Jolie and Pitt was undeniable, leading to the dissolution of Pitt’s marriage to Aniston and the creation of the supercouple known as “Brangelina.” The couple had six children together, three of whom were adopted from different countries.
• Separation and Divorce: In 2016, Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was highly publicized and involved a lengthy custody battle over their six children. The split marked the end of one of Hollywood’s most talked-about relationships.
• Plane Incident: In 2016, just days before filing for divorce, there was a reported altercation between Brad Pitt and their eldest son, Maddox, on a private plane. This incident reportedly played a significant role in Jolie’s decision to end their marriage. The FBI and Child Services investigated the incident, but no charges were filed against Pitt.

Philanthropy and Charity

Jolie has donated millions of dollars to various causes over the years. She co-founded the Jolie-Pitt Foundation with her former husband, Brad Pitt, which supports humanitarian projects around the world. She is also known for her support of wildlife conservation and environmental causes.

Early Start in Acting

Jolie began acting at a young age, making her screen debut alongside her father in “Lookin’ to Get Out” (1982) when she was just seven years old. However, her breakthrough role came in 1995 with the film “Hackers,” where she played a young computer whiz.

Lara Croft Icon

Jolie became an international superstar after portraying the video game character Lara Croft in the 2001 film “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.” The role required extensive physical training, and Jolie performed many of her own stunts. The film’s success solidified her as a leading action star.

Citizenship and Honors

In recognition of her humanitarian work, Jolie has received numerous awards and honors. She was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2013. In addition to her American citizenship, Jolie was granted Cambodian citizenship in 2005 in honor of her conservation work in the country.

Tattoo Enthusiast

Angelina Jolie is known for her numerous tattoos, each of which has personal significance. Some of her tattoos include the coordinates of her children’s birthplaces, a Buddhist prayer, and a Bengal tiger. Jolie has said that her tattoos are a form of expression and hold deep meaning for her.