Hollywood starlet, Angelina Jolie is an award-winning actress and dedicated philanthropist. The star is known for her beauty, her talent, and her work with refugees.
From dramas like Girl, Interrupted to action flicks such as Tomb Raider and Salt, Jolie has proven she can play it safe or take risks. However, her recent releases haven’t fared well with critics and audiences.
Personal Background
Angelina Jolie was born on June 4, 1975, in Los Angeles to actor parents Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. She studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute. Plus she appeared in a number of music videos for artists like the Rolling Stones and Lenny Kravitz. Throughout her childhood and early teen years, she made mostly guest appearances in her father’s films.
After her breakthrough performance in Girl, Interrupted (1999) Jolie received much more critical acclaim. She also garnered notice for her performances in made-for-TV movies such as True Women (1997) and George Wallace (1997). She then began to land starring roles in bigger movies such as cyber-thriller Hackers (1996), which brought her into the public eye. Her career skyrocketed after she took on a series of action movies, playing the girlfriend of a carjacker in Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000), an FBI profiler in Taking Lives (2004) and a squadron commander in sci-fi film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004).
The 2000s brought Angelina Jolie more awards and accolades including an Oscar for her portrayal of a sociopathic patient in Girl, Interrupted. She also starred in such blockbusters as A Mighty Heart (2001), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) and In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011). A devout humanitarian, she has taken on field missions across the globe focusing on refugee rehabilitation and the protection of children.
Acting Career
Actor, director, humanitarian, wife, mother and philanthropist — Jolie tackles all of these roles with grace, determination and vision. She has appeared in over 30 films and conducted over 40 United Nations refugee agency field missions, while also founding charitable orginizations.
Angelina began her acting career at an early age, appearing in stage productions and eventually getting her first film role. In 1999, she appeared in her first major movie role as a cop in the thriller The Bone Collector with Denzel Washington. Equally important, her performance garnered her a Golden Globe and an Emmy nomination. She also received critical acclaim for her portrayal of a troubled socialite in the drama Gia. After that, as a vengeful social worker in the drama In the Land of Blood and Honey.
In 2005, she starred alongside Brad Pitt in the action film Mr. & Mrs. Smith and proved she could carry a movie as an action heroine in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. In addition, she followed this up with a highly acclaimed turn as a troubled psychiatric patient in Girl, Interrupted. That role won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Philanthropic Efforts
Actress, director, mother, philanthropist — Angelina Jolie juggles these roles with grace and commitment. Her work as a humanitarian has led her to travel to some of the world’s most conflict-ridden areas, where she shines a light on the plight of refugees and displaced persons. Additionally, her advocacy and efforts have inspired others to create change in their own communities.
The actress has worked to connect villages that were previously isolated, as well as build schools and factories. Plus, she has also worked to preserve natural resources, such as forests and wildlife. Jolie has even funded projects to combat sexual violence in armed conflict, donating funds and promoting awareness through her various platforms.
Her activism has also been incorporated into her filmmaking career, with the actress directing films like In the Land of Blood and Honey, which tells the true story of Marianne Pearl, widow of kidnapped journalist Daniel Pearl. The movie is a no-holds-barred look at the human side of conflict, which was a directorial effort that showcased Jolie’s ability to avoid sentimentalizing and go straight for the heart of a story. She has also used her platform to promote art, collaborating with artists and photographers to use their works to amplify the stories of refugees and displaced persons. In doing so, she hopes to inspire the next generation of humanitarians.
Current Projects
In addition to her activism and charity work, Angelina Jolie continues to star in movies and television projects. She starred in her directorial debut Bruised (2020) and was also featured as a firefighter in the action movie Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021). Last year she appeared as the immortal warrior Thena in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Eternals. Jolie also provided voice work in animated films including Kung Fu Panda (2008), its sequels (2011) and 2016 and the 2021 family-friendly film The One and Only Ivan.
The mother of six is also a co-owner of the fashion label Atelier Jolie. The clothing features designs made from recycled and sustainable materials. Moreover, the brand was founded in 2014 in a collaboration with her daughter Vivienne, 17, and has become a platform for the actress to showcase her passion for ethical design.