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Angelina Jolie's In-Depth Interview published in the Dec. 22 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
(source: Angelina Jolies In-Depth Interview | Just Jared)
Angelina Jolie - Philippine Daily Inquirer Interview
We havent talked to you in almost two years. Can you recap the high points in your personal journey in the last couple of years? The high points are the obvious. My coming together with Brad; Brad and Maddox coming together; and Zahara coming into our family. The low or scarier point was when Zahara got sick. Her surviving that was a high point. My having a baby (Shiloh) and now her personality is coming outits fun. Its great to see all three kids together.
On a professional level, this film was wonderful to work on. That Ill be working a lot less and spending a lot more time at home was a welcome decision at the end of the day.
And you have been going on these missions for the UN. Ive been working for the UN for five years now. I have been involved with projects in Cambodia for four years. Im still pushing for different bills in Washington and they havent gone through. We have a new Congress. Maybe they will (pass those bills).
Im trying to educate myself more to be able to handle discussions on issues better and not just be emotional about them. I would try to actually deal with them on a stronger level and make some changes.
As Im looking at you from the side, you and Brad could be brother and sister. Well, thank God were not (laughter).
Even in your voice and the way you respond to questions. Oh, no. Really?
Do you think your relationship is based on the fact that you are alike? You know, its funny. When we first came together, everybody commented on how different we were. So now its funny to hear somebody comment on how similar we are. Oh my God, I think youve scared me into thinking were starting to be that couple that morphs (starts looking like each other). We are very different in many ways certainly in the way he is at home and the way I am at home. But we balance each other quite well.
Can you give an example of how different you are? Hes very methodical and takes time with things. Im very impulsive like on a decision we made yesterday. But (when we travel), he packs at the last minute while I pack three days ahead with all the kids stuff and five different things. I like to organize each moment of our travel but he likes to be more (spontaneous). But we appreciate each other. We need it. I need to be not so crazy about things.
How are you going to spend the holidays? Were going somewhere this Christmas. Well spend the morning with our children, have a wonderful time with them and make it special for them and not forget that. Were going to spend the day with some other people, bring them some things, listen and talk to them. I want to teach my kids that its not about what theyre going to get but its about who theyre going to think of, what theyre going to do, what theyre going to learn and who they are going to extend kindness to. The season is a good excuse to teach our children something really nice.
Spiritually, are Brad and you on the same page? Yes, I would say that. Were not of any one faith ourselves but we are teaching the children about different faiths. We believe (in teaching them about) that. We believe that you should understand and learn about all the different faiths. Then teach your children and see where they fall and celebrate many different things. I suppose that is a unique thing to be very much in agreement on.
Do you have any respite from the paparazzi at all? We were just recently in our home in Cambodia and nobody was there. So there are ways and there are places (where there are no paparazzi). We also went to Brads parents house for about five days. That was lovely and quiet. Hopefully in the years to come, maybe if we work less, well have more of a quiet life. Then our kids will have a more normal life. We just try not to let it (the paparazzi issue) affect us. It only does when we want the kids to have more freedom but other than that, we try to ignore it. There are worse problems so were OK.
Would you like to get married again? I have had two beautiful marriages (first to British actor Johnny Lee Miller and then to American actor Billy Bob Thorton in my life. I dont feel a need to get married at all at this moment. But I am committed to another person (Brad) and three children. I think thats the most important. For people who want to be married, its a beautiful thing. Its a wonderful thing and Im all for it.
How much do you enjoy flying your own plane? I love it. It certainly gives me a freedom that I dont have on the ground. Flying is a real skill. I know that sounds odd but I have spent my whole life with a job that is kind of odd. I interpret behavior, tell stories and I emotethose are not practical skills. So it was really wonderful for me as a woman and as a person to go back to school, take tests, study and learn a proper physical skill I can expand on. Hopefully one day, I would be able to give service as a pilot.
How often do you fly? I flew until I was about six and a half months pregnant. And then I wasnt allowed to fly anymore. I flew about two months after Shiloh was born. I fly whenever I can. I havent been able to fly recently but probably Ill fly in January and February.
Which of your movies made the most impact on you personally? I think everything does one way or the other. The funniest and probably the truest example is Lara Croft: Tomb Raider because it was about other countries. It was about being physically strong, fit and focused. So it got me healthy and let me travel to Cambodia. Cambodia changed my life. The next film let me travel to Africa. So in working with local people, you learn about these countries not just as a tourist. But I would say that Cambodia was the most significant one. Learning about land mines and refugees and the history of a country I knew very little about changed me and made me start to question. That was really the beginning of me questioning things.
Has being famous hindered or blocked your desire to help in many countries? It has been the best use of my celebrity. When I was younger, I didnt know quite what to do with my celebrity status. You dont really do interviews to talk about other topics. You havent come to many conclusions. You dont have a lot to say. So to find a purpose in my life really helped me. I wake up and I dont think about meaningless little things that I am worried about for myself. Im able to focus outward and that is just a healthier way to live. Certainly the position Im in has made it very easy for me to be able to meet with officials, get briefings and do things quicker. Thats an even exchange. The negative side of it is your credibility is questioned. A lot of people are out to make a very silly story when youre trying to focus on something else or question why you do things. Thats to be expected.
Is it more difficult to be a mother of a boy or of girls? I dont know. Theyre very different. My boy was my first baby so that was hard. Perhaps when theyre teenagers, Id say its harder to be a mother of a girl or Id be more nervous about the girls going on dates than about the boy. Thats when it comes back at us. Theyre interesting, crazy and wild in their own ways.
My son is very close to me. I dont know if thats because we were alone for a long time. I can see a little bit of a difference between a mother and son and between a daddy and his girls. Its quite interesting. On giving birth to a child or adopting a child, I honestly did expect that there would be a different feeling. I was very concerned that there would be and I prepared for that. There was absolutely none. Other than sometimes I look at Shiloh and I see Bradthats sweetI dont feel any differently. That was a wonderful surprise. I was so happy to have Shiloh in Africa, that we could do that and for her to have a Namibian passport. She has that connection to another country and to her sisters part of the world. I think that ties them together a little.
Angelina Jolie's In-Depth Interview published in the Dec. 22 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
(source: Angelina Jolies In-Depth Interview | Just Jared)
Angelina Jolie - Philippine Daily Inquirer Interview
We havent talked to you in almost two years. Can you recap the high points in your personal journey in the last couple of years? The high points are the obvious. My coming together with Brad; Brad and Maddox coming together; and Zahara coming into our family. The low or scarier point was when Zahara got sick. Her surviving that was a high point. My having a baby (Shiloh) and now her personality is coming outits fun. Its great to see all three kids together.
On a professional level, this film was wonderful to work on. That Ill be working a lot less and spending a lot more time at home was a welcome decision at the end of the day.
And you have been going on these missions for the UN. Ive been working for the UN for five years now. I have been involved with projects in Cambodia for four years. Im still pushing for different bills in Washington and they havent gone through. We have a new Congress. Maybe they will (pass those bills).
Im trying to educate myself more to be able to handle discussions on issues better and not just be emotional about them. I would try to actually deal with them on a stronger level and make some changes.
As Im looking at you from the side, you and Brad could be brother and sister. Well, thank God were not (laughter).
Even in your voice and the way you respond to questions. Oh, no. Really?
Do you think your relationship is based on the fact that you are alike? You know, its funny. When we first came together, everybody commented on how different we were. So now its funny to hear somebody comment on how similar we are. Oh my God, I think youve scared me into thinking were starting to be that couple that morphs (starts looking like each other). We are very different in many ways certainly in the way he is at home and the way I am at home. But we balance each other quite well.
Can you give an example of how different you are? Hes very methodical and takes time with things. Im very impulsive like on a decision we made yesterday. But (when we travel), he packs at the last minute while I pack three days ahead with all the kids stuff and five different things. I like to organize each moment of our travel but he likes to be more (spontaneous). But we appreciate each other. We need it. I need to be not so crazy about things.
How are you going to spend the holidays? Were going somewhere this Christmas. Well spend the morning with our children, have a wonderful time with them and make it special for them and not forget that. Were going to spend the day with some other people, bring them some things, listen and talk to them. I want to teach my kids that its not about what theyre going to get but its about who theyre going to think of, what theyre going to do, what theyre going to learn and who they are going to extend kindness to. The season is a good excuse to teach our children something really nice.
Spiritually, are Brad and you on the same page? Yes, I would say that. Were not of any one faith ourselves but we are teaching the children about different faiths. We believe (in teaching them about) that. We believe that you should understand and learn about all the different faiths. Then teach your children and see where they fall and celebrate many different things. I suppose that is a unique thing to be very much in agreement on.
Do you have any respite from the paparazzi at all? We were just recently in our home in Cambodia and nobody was there. So there are ways and there are places (where there are no paparazzi). We also went to Brads parents house for about five days. That was lovely and quiet. Hopefully in the years to come, maybe if we work less, well have more of a quiet life. Then our kids will have a more normal life. We just try not to let it (the paparazzi issue) affect us. It only does when we want the kids to have more freedom but other than that, we try to ignore it. There are worse problems so were OK.
Would you like to get married again? I have had two beautiful marriages (first to British actor Johnny Lee Miller and then to American actor Billy Bob Thorton in my life. I dont feel a need to get married at all at this moment. But I am committed to another person (Brad) and three children. I think thats the most important. For people who want to be married, its a beautiful thing. Its a wonderful thing and Im all for it.
How much do you enjoy flying your own plane? I love it. It certainly gives me a freedom that I dont have on the ground. Flying is a real skill. I know that sounds odd but I have spent my whole life with a job that is kind of odd. I interpret behavior, tell stories and I emotethose are not practical skills. So it was really wonderful for me as a woman and as a person to go back to school, take tests, study and learn a proper physical skill I can expand on. Hopefully one day, I would be able to give service as a pilot.
How often do you fly? I flew until I was about six and a half months pregnant. And then I wasnt allowed to fly anymore. I flew about two months after Shiloh was born. I fly whenever I can. I havent been able to fly recently but probably Ill fly in January and February.
Which of your movies made the most impact on you personally? I think everything does one way or the other. The funniest and probably the truest example is Lara Croft: Tomb Raider because it was about other countries. It was about being physically strong, fit and focused. So it got me healthy and let me travel to Cambodia. Cambodia changed my life. The next film let me travel to Africa. So in working with local people, you learn about these countries not just as a tourist. But I would say that Cambodia was the most significant one. Learning about land mines and refugees and the history of a country I knew very little about changed me and made me start to question. That was really the beginning of me questioning things.
Has being famous hindered or blocked your desire to help in many countries? It has been the best use of my celebrity. When I was younger, I didnt know quite what to do with my celebrity status. You dont really do interviews to talk about other topics. You havent come to many conclusions. You dont have a lot to say. So to find a purpose in my life really helped me. I wake up and I dont think about meaningless little things that I am worried about for myself. Im able to focus outward and that is just a healthier way to live. Certainly the position Im in has made it very easy for me to be able to meet with officials, get briefings and do things quicker. Thats an even exchange. The negative side of it is your credibility is questioned. A lot of people are out to make a very silly story when youre trying to focus on something else or question why you do things. Thats to be expected.
Is it more difficult to be a mother of a boy or of girls? I dont know. Theyre very different. My boy was my first baby so that was hard. Perhaps when theyre teenagers, Id say its harder to be a mother of a girl or Id be more nervous about the girls going on dates than about the boy. Thats when it comes back at us. Theyre interesting, crazy and wild in their own ways.
My son is very close to me. I dont know if thats because we were alone for a long time. I can see a little bit of a difference between a mother and son and between a daddy and his girls. Its quite interesting. On giving birth to a child or adopting a child, I honestly did expect that there would be a different feeling. I was very concerned that there would be and I prepared for that. There was absolutely none. Other than sometimes I look at Shiloh and I see Bradthats sweetI dont feel any differently. That was a wonderful surprise. I was so happy to have Shiloh in Africa, that we could do that and for her to have a Namibian passport. She has that connection to another country and to her sisters part of the world. I think that ties them together a little.