Angelina Jolie pursued acting due to her mother's passion, but she shares an important message about discovering your own path.
Angelina Jolie never aspired to become an actress. In a freshly released interview with W magazine, promoting her film "Maria," the esteemed actor and director disclosed that her entry into the industry stemmed from fulfilling her mother's aspirations. "Acting was my mother's dream," Jolie confessed.
Her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, had pursued acting ambitions but by 25, she was a divorced mother of two, opting instead for a life dedicated to motherhood. "She didn't make it seem like a sacrifice—she adored being a stay-at-home mom. Yet, she deeply wished for me to embrace acting," Jolie shared.
Bertrand wed actor Jon Voight in 1971, welcoming their son James in 1973 and Jolie in 1975, before seeking a divorce in 1978. Bertrand passed away in 2007, having battled ovarian cancer for nearly eight years.
Reflecting on her career, Jolie remarked, "I don't recall making the decision to act. I just remember it brought joy to my mother." She reminisced, "My mom was my manager, and we were a duo. My goal was always to buy her a house, and I started covering the bills. After her passing, acting became more challenging as I realized much of it was for her."
As a mother of six, Jolie prioritizes nurturing her children's unique interests. She revealed in the interview that her "hidden talent" is piloting aircraft, owning a Cirrus. One of her sons now flies, yet Jolie remains unfazed by his aerial pursuits.
"My greater concern is people not discovering themselves or something they love. That's more perilous—to tread cautiously through life without taking risks," she stated. "Living without passion is more frightening. I'd prefer they explore and stumble rather than refrain from pursuing their passions.
