Angelina Jolie biography, kids, net worth, dating history, parents, height, age 2025

Angelina Jolie Biography

Angelina Jolie is a unique figure in the modern world. She's not only a talented actress and director who's earned millions, but also a former UN Goodwill Ambassador and mother of six children, three of whom are adopted.

Childhood and Family

Angelina Jolie was born in Los Angeles to a bohemian acting family. Her father, Jon Voight, was a Hollywood star, a '70s sex symbol and American heartthrob. In 1971, he married the charming young actress Marcheline Bertrand, 12 years younger.

Angelina Jolie's parents: Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand

Two years later, the couple had a son, James Haven, and in 1975, baby Angelina Jolie Voight was born. Their middle names proved prophetic: "haven" translates to "heaven" in English, and "jolie" means "beautiful" in French. Both kids were absolutely stunning. They inherited their mother's large expressive eyes, dimpled cheeks, and full lips, while their father passed on his exceptional creative abilities.

With her diverse heritage—French, Canadian, German, Slavic, and possibly Native American—Angelina showed a fiery temperament from day one. Little Angie was pure energy, always dreaming up something. Together with her brother, they acted out hilarious scenes, filmed everything, then proudly showed off their creations.

Angelina Jolie and her brother James Haven

But the happy family bubble didn't last - Jon regularly cheated on his wife and was often absent from home, which led to constant quarrels. Finally, their mother reached her breaking point, packed up the kids, and headed to New York, officially divorcing in 1978. After that, their dad rarely showed up, leaving Marcheline to raise the kids practically on her own.

Jolie with her brother and maternal grandmother

The divorce hit sensitive Angelina hard. She turned inward, becoming wild and antisocial. While other kids played with Barbies, she played with knives and fantasized about owning a funeral home. At school, she was the loner who avoided everyone and doodled mystical symbols in her notebooks.

Jon Voight's children got used to cameras from an early age

As a teenager, things got worse - Angie began cutting her body with a knife and once nearly bled to death, hitting a major artery. That close call made her step back and really examine her life. Desperate to understand herself, she traded knives for books, searching for answers.

In 1986, the family returned to Los Angeles, where Angelina enrolled in the famous Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. Concurrently, she attended a prestigious school in Beverly Hills and couldn't wait to grow up and be independent. She powered through school without tutors or extra help, graduating a year and a half early to focus on her career.

Oscars Flashback 86: 10-Year-Old Angelina Jolie

She first tried breaking into modeling and started losing weight at an alarming rate. When her weight hit a dangerous low, her mother knew something was seriously wrong and rushed her to a doctor. Doctors diagnosed early-stage anorexia and laid out the devastating consequences of the disease for Angie. Despite her stubborn streak, she listened to the doctors and got back to eating normally.

In her youth, Angelina Jolie dreamed of becoming a model

At 14, Jolie tried proving her "maturity" in a different way - she moved her boyfriend in and declared him her common-law husband. Her mother didn't interfere with the arrangement, but when Angelina tried seducing her own boyfriend, she devastated her mother. James also condemned his sister's behavior, leaving Angelina an outcast in her own family.

She completely spiraled, experimenting with every drug imaginable by age twenty and coming dangerously close to suicide. Film work pulled her back from the brink - her brother had graduated from film school, started directing, and brought his sister into his experimental projects. At the same time, Jolie was appearing in music videos for famous artists, acting in theater, and modeling part-time.

Roles in Cinema

Angelina made her screen debut at just 7 years old, appearing alongside her parents in "Lookin' to Get Out" (1982).

A decade later, she took on a cyborg role in the sci-fi flick "Cyborg 2" (1993). While this didn't catapult her to stardom, her next project "Hackers" (1995) earned praise from both audiences and critics. Though it bombed at the box office, the film became a cult favorite with American teens.

Angelina Jolie at the start of her career

Her big break came starring in the biographical drama "Gia" (1998), where she played iconic '70s model Gia Carangi, who tragically died of AIDS at just 25.

The transformation wasn't much of a stretch for Angelina—she was essentially playing herself. She actually worried the role might reawaken her inner demons and turned down the project four times.

Gia Trailer

She ultimately nailed the performance and snagged a Golden Globe for her work. Directors took notice of her incredible talent and started pursuing her for major projects.

In 1998, Jolie received her first Golden Globe

The following year brought the biographical drama "Girl, Interrupted" (1999), where Jolie played a volatile sociopathic character with suicidal tendencies. To nail the role, she spent two months in a psychiatric facility studying patient behavior.

Her performance was so compelling that she completely upstaged Winona Ryder, the film's actual lead. For this role, the actress received another Golden Globe and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie in their youth

At the awards ceremony, she showed up with her brother and planted a passionate kiss on him, sparking major controversy. The media immediately jumped to accusations of an incestuous relationship. Years later, both Angelina and James firmly denied the allegations.

After "Girl, Interrupted's" success, Jolie cemented her place among Hollywood's A-list. Her paychecks became massive, and directors were lining up to work with her.

Girl, Interrupted (1999) - My Father Loves Me Scene

One of her biggest commercial hits was the video game adaptation "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (2001). Jolie perfectly embodied the fearless heroine, doing most of her own stunts and handling weapons like a pro.

In 2002, Jon Voight publicly called his daughter mentally unstable during a TV interview, prompting her to cut all ties with him and drop his surname.

Jolie hasn't spoken to her father in years

In 2003, the sequel to the Lara Croft franchise was released. Despite its financial success, the project was halted. Jolie has repeatedly stated that she's ready to return to this role at any time – the character that made her a superhero icon and one of the highest-paid actresses in the world.

Angelina Jolie's dad makes a surprise appearance in her emotional interview

Fast-forward to 2018, when the third installment was finally released, with the lead role played by the young actress Alicia Vikander. Producers considered Angelina too old for the role. Sources claim Jolie was outraged and personally stormed the Warner Brothers office, causing a major scandal. During filming, she reportedly called Vikander to offer advice and hinted that she'd better not try to outshine her Lara – it would be impossible.

In the third film, Lara Croft was played by Alicia Vikander

In 2005, the world premiere of the comedy action film "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" was held, which became a highlight not only in Jolie's film career, but also in her personal life. Audiences immediately picked up on the romantic chemistry between the soon-to-be Jolie-Pitt couple, which greatly contributed to the film's box office success (almost $500 million). This was followed by dozens of successful works, including "Changeling" (2008), "Salt" (2010), "The Tourist" (2010), and many more.

In 2007, the actress's mother died of ovarian cancer, which was diagnosed in the late 90s. Jolie's grandmother also died of the same disease. After learning that she too carried the gene that causes cancer, Angelina voluntarily underwent surgery in 2013 to remove her breasts and ovaries. After reconstructing her breasts, she soon returned to her profession without losing her attractiveness.

Angelina Jolie underwent a double mastectomy

Worthy of special attention is "Maleficent" (2014) – a fresh take on the Disney film about Sleeping Beauty, which brought its creators a record $758 million. Critics concluded that such unprecedented commercial success was mainly due to Angelina's involvement, with her performance being deemed "simply brilliant."

Directorial Works

In 2007, the actress made her directorial debut with the documentary "A Place in Time". It was followed by the feature drama "In the Land of Blood and Honey" (2011), for which Jolie personally wrote the script. The film depicts the events of the Balkan War in 1992, focusing on a love story between a Serbian soldier and a Bosnian woman torn apart by the conflict.

'In the Land of Blood and Honey': Angelina Jolie's On Set Interview

Jolie's 2014 war drama "Unbroken" earned three Oscar nominations for cinematography, editing, and sound mixing. The acting performance of Jack O'Connell and the stunt work were also highly praised.

In her next movie "By the Sea" (2016), Jolie starred alongside Brad Pitt. The film tells the story of a married couple trying to save their marriage. The movie proved eerily prophetic—a year later, Angelina and Brad officially announced their separation.

In 2017, Jolie released "First They Killed My Father". This film was very important for the actress. Based on the true story of Cambodian author Loung Ung, who became close to Jolie. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe and became the actress's best directorial work.

Public and Humanitarian Activities

While filming "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider", Angelina first visited Cambodia and was deeply affected by the living conditions she witnessed. From that point on, humanitarian missions became an integral part of her life.

In 2001, Jolie became involved in public activities

She studied countless refugee case files and began visiting conflict zones as part of special commissions. The actress not only donated large sums to charity, but also personally participated in setting up refugee camps and schools for their children.

In August 2001, she was officially named a UN Goodwill Ambassador, and in 2005, she was invited to present at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Jolie has established several charitable foundations, to which she regularly transfers substantial financial contributions. Angelina often meets with influential politicians, businessmen, and economists, delivers lectures on human rights, and is a guest lecturer at the London School of Economics.

Angelina Jolie's Personal Life

From an early age, Angelina never lacked male attention, and she's also known to have had relationships with women. Her first serious relationship began at 14. Her mother let her move in with her boyfriend, reasoning it was better for the teens to be intimate at home than in nightclub corners.

The actress's first husband was Jonny Lee Miller, whom she met while filming "Hackers". They played a couple in love so convincingly on screen that their relationship naturally spilled into real life.

Johnny helped Angelina through her darkest period - she was battling serious drug addiction at the time.

I didn't die young, and it's a great fortune - many artists couldn't handle what I've been through.

Despite their passionate love, they were complete opposites and split up a year after getting married. Officially, Jolie divorced Miller in 1999 when she met Billy Bob Thornton, her second husband.

They met on the set of "Pushing Tin" and immediately fell head over heels for each other. Billy wasn't single - he was engaged to actress Laura Dern - but after meeting Angelina, he was completely smitten.

This time, Jolie and her partner turned out to be kindred spirits - both drawn to eccentric behavior, haunted by dark pasts, and mysterious by nature.

Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton

In May 2000, they tied the knot in Las Vegas, exchanging blood-filled pendants instead of traditional wedding rings. The newlyweds proudly showed off tattoos of each other's names and weren't shy about their passion in public. This intense relationship completely fulfilled Angelina until her life-changing trip to Cambodia.

This trip completely transformed her worldview - she began participating in humanitarian missions and donating to charities, and in March 2002 adopted a Cambodian orphan named Maddox (born in 2001).

After adopting Maddox, Jolie's priorities shifted dramatically, putting her completely at odds with Thornton's outlook. He couldn't connect with the child, and her humanitarian work felt foreign to him. In May 2003, Angelina divorced Billy and threw herself completely into her new life.

In 2004, the actress began working on "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" and met Brad Pitt on set. Just like before, sparks flew between the co-stars, and their on-screen chemistry quickly turned into an off-screen romance. The actors couldn't keep their feelings under wraps for long, and soon paparazzi photos of them together on an Argentine beach hit the tabloids.

Shortly before this, Brad had split from his wife, actress Jennifer Aniston, and the whole world knew what had broken up Hollywood's golden couple. The public was split - some backed Jolie, while others felt sorry for Aniston and branded Angie a homewrecker.

They were called the most beautiful couple in Hollywood

Meanwhile, they went to Ethiopia and adopted a baby girl named Zahara (born in 2005). However, Zahara wasn't actually an orphan - two years later, her birth mother surfaced and tried to claim custody.

The situation was resolved with a substantial financial settlement, and the year before, Angelina had welcomed her third child, daughter Shiloh (2006) with Brad. The first photos of their daughter sold to the media for $10 million, with all proceeds going to charity.

Shiloh, Angelina Jolie's biological daughter

In 2007, they adopted Vietnamese boy Pax Thien (born in 2003), and a year later welcomed twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline (both born in 2008). The daughter was named after Angelina's mother, who died of ovarian cancer a year and a half before this event. This time, photos of the newborns sold for $14 million, with proceeds split between charity and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in New Orleans.

In 2012, Jolie and Pitt finally tied the knot at their kids' request, but four years later, news of their split shocked everyone. Reports claimed Brad had been harsh with the kids, including an incident where he allegedly yelled at Maddox on a plane. Angelina filed for divorce and sought sole custody of all six children.

All of Angelina Jolie's children: 3 adopted and 3 biological

Brad fought the decision, leading to a three-year legal battle that finally ended amicably in April 2019. The lengthy legal fight took its toll on both of them physically, emotionally, and financially. Jolie repeatedly consulted a psychologist and noticeably lost weight again.

After the divorce, Jolie lost up to 75 lbs due to stress

The older children only intensified the drama with their shocking moves: in 2014, Shiloh came out as transgender, identifying as a boy named John, while Maddox shocked everyone in 2019 by announcing plans to sue his parents for custody of his younger siblings. With all this family chaos unfolding, Angelina made the decision to step back from Hollywood and prioritize her kids. She purchased a stunning Los Feliz mansion, cooks nutritious meals for her brood, and personally helps with homework.

Angelina Jolie Now

In 2019, Jolie landed a major Guerlain fragrance campaign and maintained her reign as one of the world's most beautiful and desirable women.

Guerlain ad featuring Angelina Jolie

October 2019 saw the release of "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil," the highly anticipated sequel. Jolie made it a family affair at the premiere, with all six kids by her side – even 18-year-old Maddox flew in from Seoul, where he's attending college, to support his mom.

The actress also got love from her brother and father – relationships she's worked hard to repair in recent years.

The fantasy drama "Come Away" was set to premiere in late 2020. The film represents director Brenda Chapman's imaginative take on blending beloved children's stories. Angelina plays the main role.

Angelina Jolie on the set of 'Come Away'

In 2021, Jolie joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe and starred in the action movie "Eternals". The film also featured "Game of Thrones" stars Richard Madden and Kit Harington, as well as Gemma Chan and Salma Hayek.

In April 2022, Jolie traveled to Lviv to show solidarity with Ukrainian refugees. Her surprise appearance at a Lviv cafe created a media frenzy and sparked a viral meme: in one leaked photo, a young man in the foreground appears completely oblivious to the Hollywood superstar behind him.

In a candid December 2023 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Jolie revealed she views Hollywood as an "unhealthy place" and is considering a future move to Cambodia, where she owns property and has held citizenship since 2005. But don't expect her to pack up anytime soon. She's juggling multiple projects. First up: the third "Maleficent" installment. She's also producing the Broadway show "The Outcast," with daughter Vivienne working as her assistant – and according to mom, she's absolutely crushing it.

Angelina Jolie: latest news and articles

Brad Pitt refused to film with Angelina Jolie due to emotional pain

16 Dec 2024

Kathleen Riley

I was in shock how amazing she played in Maleficent! So genius work!

2021-05-18 17:02:58
Janet Owen

Beautiful Jolie nowadays don`t play so much :( And if she is showing up somewhere, it means the movie will be a bomb!

2021-04-23 08:46:20
Veronica Joseph

I miss movies with her, for example, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. The new version with another actress is totally different.

2021-03-21 22:54:20
Billie Fields

She worth all the respect because of her charity and of course because of her work in cinematography.

2021-03-07 18:36:04
Dorothy Hall

Jolie in all the movies looks fabulous, super cool, and with energy, positive vibes.

2021-02-10 18:09:40

Photos: Angelina Jolie