Angelina Jolie’s journey has been truly remarkable, showcasing her incredible transformation from a wild child in her teens and 20s to becoming a mother of six and a well-respected humanitarian. She has left behind her drug use and attention-seeking ways, and is now dedicated to making the world a better place through her humanitarian work. In fact, she even replaced her infamous blood-filled necklace with an engagement ring worth $250,000 from her loving partner Brad Pitt. As she celebrates her 40th birthday, we reflect on Angelina’s journey towards finding stability with her family, while also maintaining a highly successful career.
Today marks Angelina Jolie’s 40th birthday and she has come a long way from her younger days as a wild and carefree individual. Now a renowned movie star, she has taken on the role of a responsible parent, caring for six children. Her transformation is truly remarkable.
In this snapshot from 1986, we see Angelina, a young girl with a strong drive and lofty aspirations. Standing next to her grandmother and brother, her gaze is fixed on emulating her father, Jon Voight, a renowned actor. Despite being just 10 years old at the time, Angelina was determined to pursue an acting career and was unwavering in her resolve to make her dreams a reality.
Angelina Jolie, daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, was fortunate enough to make her debut appearance in her father’s movie, Lookin’ to Get Out, released back in 1982. Being born on June 4, 1975, in Los Angeles, Angelina exhibited her acting talent early on. However, during her teenage years, she faced difficulties in landing acting gigs as her gothic black hair, without any tattoos at the time, made her appear “too dark.” Additionally, Angelina experienced self-harm struggles during this phase. As a teenager, she displayed a rebellious streak by staying with her boyfriend in her family home for two years, living like a married couple, before they decided to part ways as Angelina yearned for her independence. Despite gaining regular acting work in the mid to late 90s, Angelina continued to make headlines for various reasons beyond her acting ventures.
Back in 1996, Angelina caused quite a commotion when she acted alongside Jenny Schimizu, her partner at the time (who is seen on the right in the picture). This was due to Jenny’s disclosure that they enjoyed going to strip clubs together.
Getting recognition: Back in 1999, the actress received her first-ever award, a prestigious Golden Globe, for her remarkable performance as the lead character in the mini-series Gia. Her portrayal in the movie was highly appreciated, and she was honored for it.
Instead of being praised for her accomplishment, Angelina’s spur-of-the-moment plunge into the swimming pool while still wearing her outfit was what people were talking about after the ceremony. She even dragged a journalist in with her, making it even more amusing.
Angelina Jolie had a successful career in acting, starring in a variety of films such as Girl, Interrupted in 1999 with Winona Ryder. In 1996, Angelina was in Foxfire with her then-girlfriend Jenny Schimizu, who introduced her to strip clubs and dominatrix joints, which Angelina enjoyed. Despite some scandals, Angelina’s undeniable talent won her several awards, including a Golden Globe for best actress in a mini-series for Gia in 1999. However, at the after-party, she caused a stir by jumping into the pool while still wearing her designer gown and pulling a reporter in with her. Angelina also won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Girl, Interrupted in March of 2000. However, her kiss with her brother James Haven on the lips during her win celebration and her declaration of being “so in love” with him in her acceptance speech overshadowed her achievement, resulting in inappropriate jokes.
Angelina Jolie, the Oscar-winning actress from Girl, Interrupted, caused quite a stir when she stole the limelight from her award by sharing a loving kiss with her brother James Haven, who was standing to her right. This display of sibling affection made headlines and got people talking.
The gorgeous star embraced her status as a sex icon, as evidenced by her cozy embrace of her partner Billy Bob Thornton (seen on the right) after he revealed to a reporter in 2000 that they had just engaged in sexual activity inside their fancy limousine.
Impressive lady: Back in 2001, she achieved massive success on the big screen by playing the main role in the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
Angelina Jolie, known for her wild antics, became a UN Goodwill Ambassador. Her husband, Billy Bob Thornton, made news when he disclosed that they had sex in the limo on their way to the MTV Movie Awards, and they even wore vials of each other’s blood around their necks. However, the success of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2001 seemed to have a profound effect on the actress. She began to re-evaluate her life and tone down her behavior. Her transformation from an out-of-control starlet to a humanitarian started to take shape when she was appointed as a UN Goodwill Ambassador in August 2001. Angelina took part in various missions, including visiting impoverished areas, refugee camps, and women and children in distress all around the world. Her travels opened her eyes to the stark contrast between the rich and the poor, and the uneven distribution of resources across the globe.
Back in 2002, a young mother believed that having a child was not in the cards for her. However, at the tender age of 26, she went ahead and adopted her first son named Maddox. It was a momentous occasion for her.
Angie and Brad’s love story began to blossom in the movie “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” in 2005, which later led to a real-life romance between the two.
The man involved in the story is already committed to a relationship, which caused Angelina to be labeled as a home-wrecker despite denying any physical relationship before Brad’s divorce from Jennifer Aniston. Angelina’s trip to Cambodia in 2000 deeply impacted her and led to a decision that changed her life. In an interview with Elle, she said that she never thought she would have children. However, in March 2002, at the age of 26, she adopted a seven-month-old baby boy from Cambodia named Maddox. Although motherhood brought a sense of stability and her humanitarian work increased, her reputation was tarnished by a tabloid scandal in 2005. During the filming of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Angelina and co-star Brad Pitt found themselves falling in love, which resulted in the breakdown of Brad’s marriage to Jennifer Aniston. Even if they insisted their relationship did not become physical until after Brad separated from Jennifer, the media still labeled Angelina as a homewrecker. Later on, in an interview with Vogue magazine, Angelina acknowledged that they realized their relationship meant more than they had initially thought only at the end of the shoot.
Angelina and Brad chose to expand their family by adopting more children and providing them with a caring environment. Zahara, located at the back left of the photo, and Pax, seated at the front right, are among the children they adopted.
In 2008, the family grew as the couple welcomed the birth of twins named Knox and Vivienne. The two new additions joined their older siblings – Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh (who is their biological daughter), and Pax – forming a large and affectionate family.
Back in 2008, Angelina Jolie was the top-earning actress in Hollywood, earning an impressive $15 to $20 million per film. She faced criticism for a photo shoot with her partner Brad Pitt in W Magazine, which led to Jennifer Aniston accusing her of being insensitive. However, Angelina didn’t let that stop her from adopting her second daughter Zahara from Ethiopia in July 2005, who was later adopted by Brad as well. After the birth of their first biological child Shiloh in May 2006, they adopted a boy named Pax from Vietnam in March 2007. Angelina’s wild days were behind her, and she was now known not just for her sense of style but also as a mother of a diverse family, which grew even more with the birth of twins Knox and Vivienne in July 2008. Despite her focus on motherhood, Angelina remained a star, starring in hit movies like Gone in 60 Seconds, A Mighty Heart, and Changeling, cementing her status as the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Diversifying her resume: Back in 2011, the famed personality delved into the world of directing, and even tackled the tasks of writing and producing for her very own film called In the Land of Blood and Honey.
Making a positive impact on the world has been a top priority for her. Despite facing challenges along the way, she remained steadfast in her pursuit of humanitarian work. One notable trip was her visit to Pakistan back in 2010. During this trip, she had the opportunity to meet Syrian refugees and offer her support (as shown in the accompanying photo). Her dedication to helping those in need has taken her across the globe, including multiple trips to the Middle East.
In 2012, Angelina Jolie got everyone talking with her leg-out pose at the Oscars. However, she was determined to be taken more seriously in her career and decided to produce and direct her first film, In the Land of Blood and Honey. Although the movie received mixed reviews, it did earn Angelina a nomination for a Golden Globe award. Despite her busy schedule, which included traveling to war-torn countries and meeting with refugees, Angelina still managed to make a splash on the red carpet. Her iconic Atelier Versace gown at the 2012 Oscars left many people stunned. In addition to all of this, Brad Pitt proposed to Angelina after seven years together and reportedly designed a $250,000 ring for her.
The couple, who had been truthful about their relationship for seven years, made their engagement public in 2012 and are now prepared to get married.
Angelina Jolie caused a stir when she chose to have a preemptive double mastectomy as a means of reducing her odds of developing breast cancer. In an op-ed piece published in the New York Times in May 2014, the actress disclosed that she possesses the BRCA1 gene, which places her at a higher vulnerability for ovarian and breast cancer. As a result of undergoing surgery, her chances of acquiring breast cancer have decreased appreciably. Her decision to share her experience created a phenomenon known as the ‘Angelina Jolie effect,’ which inspired more women to gain insight into their BRCA status. Following additional surgery to remove her Fallopian tubes and ovaries, Angelina wedded Brad Pitt in private nuptials in August 2014. Her personal health battle may have saved other women’s lives and fostered conversations about breast cancer screening.
During her trip to Jordan in 2013, Angelina was a vocal supporter of bettering the lives of Syrian refugees. She worked hard to make a positive difference.
Sharing information: During the first month of 2015, she embarked on a journey to Iraq in order to establish connections with those who were compelled to abandon their residences on account of religious prejudice.
Wow, Angelina looked absolutely gorgeous at the premiere of Maleficent in 2014. It’s not surprising though, considering that the movie went on to become her most successful Disney film ever. I’m sure she made quite a lot of money from that project!
Angelina Jolie is not just known for her beauty and acting skills, she is also a humanitarian who uses her fame to shed light on important issues such as the Syrian refugee crisis. She delivered a powerful speech at the United Nations Security Council Meeting in 2015 to advocate for more assistance for Syrian refugees. Angelina recently tied the knot with Brad Pitt, wearing a stunning custom gown by Atelier Versace designed by Luigi Massi, and her veil featured embroidered drawings by her children. Despite taking a break from acting for three-and-a-half years, Angelina’s return to Hollywood in 2014 with Disney’s Maleficent was a huge success, becoming her highest-grossing film ever. She is also recognized as one of the most philanthropic actresses of our time due to her inspiring humanitarian work. It’s worth noting that she has been consistently recognized as the world’s most beautiful woman by Vogue, People, and Vanity Fair. As she turns 40, we acknowledge all that Angelina has accomplished and contributed to society.
