‘I got taken down a little’

Angelina Jolie is opening up about one of the most difficult chapters of her life and the family members who helped her emerge stronger on the other side.

In a candid new interview with Variety, the Oscar-winning actress reflected on life after her divorce from Brad Pitt, revealing that she feels like she has finally regained the “fighting spirit” she lost during years of personal upheaval.

“My fighting spirit is back,” Jolie said, admitting that there was a period when she felt as though she had lost a part of herself. “I kind of got taken down a little.”

While she did not mention Pitt directly, the comments come more than a year after the former couple finalized their divorce following a lengthy legal battle that lasted nearly a decade.

Jolie credited her six children, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne, for helping her reconnect with herself and embrace a new chapter.

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Now that her children are older, the actress said they have become a source of encouragement, pushing her to travel more, explore the world and rediscover parts of her life that had been placed on hold.

“They know me more than anybody, and they still like me, which says a lot,” she said, in a remark that quickly sparked conversation among fans online.

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The actress also reflected on how dramatically her career changed following her split. Before the divorce, Jolie said she had largely stepped away from acting to focus on directing and humanitarian work. Returning to the screen was initially a practical decision that allowed her to remain close to her children while supporting her family.

“I had quit acting,” she explained, noting that acting projects offered a way to earn a living without spending long periods away from home.

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Beyond discussing her career and family, Jolie also shared deeply personal reflections about mortality and motherhood while promoting her upcoming film ‘Couture,’ in which she plays a woman navigating both illness and divorce.

Having lost her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, to ovarian cancer and carrying the BRCA1 gene mutation herself, Jolie admitted that thoughts about death have shaped her outlook on life for years.

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“I raise my kids almost preparing them for my absence and not as much preparing to be a grandmother,” she said. “That’s what happens when you consider death as a reality.”

The actress said she has never lived with the expectation of a long life, a perspective that has influenced many of her decisions both as a mother and as a public figure.

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Still, Jolie appears focused on moving forward. Speaking about the future, she revealed that she hopes to spend more time in Cambodia and travel extensively once her youngest children, twins Knox and Vivienne, are adults.

The interview marks one of Jolie’s most personal conversations in years, offering a rare glimpse into the challenges she faced behind the scenes and the resilience that has helped her move forward.

For now, the actress says she is embracing a renewed sense of freedom, purpose, and strength, thanks in large part to the six children who stood beside her through it all.