Angelina Jolie grew emotional Sunday at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival while describing her late mother’s decade-long struggle with cancer during a question-and-answer session after the debut of her new film, Couture.
The Oscar winner, who stars in the film as a woman diagnosed with cancer upon arriving at Paris Fashion Week, paused after an audience member who had recently lost a friend to cancer asked for advice for those coping with such a loss. Jolie covered her mouth and dabbed her eyes as she listened, saying, “I’m very sorry for your loss,” then recalling what her mother once said about being defined by her illness.
“One thing I remember my mother saying when she had cancer … we’d had a dinner and people were asking her how she was doing. She said, ‘All people ever ask me about is cancer,’” Jolie said. She added, “I would say, if you know someone who’s going through something, ask them about everything else in their life as well. They’re a whole person. And they’re still living.” Video of the exchange was shared by Entertainment Weekly.
Jolie lost her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, in 2007 after a decade-long battle with breast and ovarian cancer. Bertrand, an actress who stepped back from her career in the early 1980s, was 56 when she died. Jolie has previously cited her mother’s support and influence on her life and work, saying she would sometimes imagine letters Bertrand might have written to some of Jolie’s characters.
The actress has also spoken publicly about her own health decisions linked to cancer risk. After testing positive for a BRCA1 mutation, Jolie underwent a preventive double mastectomy and reconstruction in 2013. In 2010, after completing her family, she had a hysterectomy as a precaution against ovarian cancer. A member of her surgical team later said public awareness driven by Jolie’s disclosure had encouraged other women to seek testing.
Jolie’s participation in TIFF comes as she promotes Couture, a film that has no announced release date. During the festival appearance, director Alice Winocour and co-star Anyier Anei moved close to comfort her as she spoke.
The actress, who has six children with her former husband Brad Pitt — Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and twins Vivienne and Knox — accepted a Maltin Modern Master Award earlier in the year at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, where she again reflected on her mother’s influence and the intersection of family and creative life.
Couture marks another high-profile role for Jolie, whose work has ranged from studio blockbusters to portrayals of real-life figures. Festival audiences and journalists have noted the film’s subject matter has resonances with Jolie’s public conversation about cancer and caregiving, and her remarks at TIFF underscored the personal history behind that engagement. A release date for Couture has not been announced.