Angelina Jolie Opens Up about the Struggles of Motherhood
The notoriously private Angelina Jolie is opening up about her off-camera life with her six children in a rare interview for British Vogue's March 2021 cover. When speaking about raising her kids, the actress stresses that they are just like everyone else—a son in her senior year, a daughter learning how to drive, etc. However, Jolie also shares that she feels she does not possess the "traditional" motherly qualities.
"Well, I was never very good at sitting still," says Jolie. "Even though I wanted to have many children and be a mom, I always imagined it kind of like Jane Goodall, travelling in the middle of the jungle somewhere. I didn’t imagine it in that true, traditional sense. I feel like I’m lacking in all the skills to be a traditional stay-at-home mom. I’m managing through it because the children are quite resilient, and they’re helping me, but I’m not good at it at all."
She continues about her children, "I feel like we’re such a team. It may sound clichéd, but you love and you try, and even if you burn the eggs, that doesn’t matter in the end. But also, you’ve met our kids. They’re pretty capable."
Jolie currently resides in Cecil B. DeMille's former mansion because of its proximity to her ex Brad Pitt. She explains, "I wanted it to be close to their dad, who is only five minutes away." Pitt and Jolie split in 2016 after 10 years together. They continue to share custody of five of their six children (the oldest, Maddox, is a legal adult).
Though she prioritizes her family life, Jolie's career is still in full swing. Her upcoming film, Those Who Wish Me Dead, recently received a May 14th release in theaters and on HBO Max. She will also star in a Marvel superhero film, Eternals, co-starring Richard Madden, Salma Hayek, and Gemma Chan, later this November.