Angelina Jolie is re-emerging in Hollywood after a period of focusing on her family and directing. The actress is currently promoting her new film "Couture," in which she portrays an American filmmaker diagnosed with breast cancer during Paris Fashion Week. This role holds personal significance for Jolie, as her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, died of breast cancer at age 56, and Jolie herself underwent a preventative double mastectomy in 2013 after discovering a BRCA1 gene mutation.
Jolie described the filming process for "Couture" as revisiting past trauma and pouring personal pain into her performance. She shared with Reuters that a scene involving the placement of operation lines on her chest felt vulnerable, stating, "It felt a strange moment to have Hollywood in my hospital room." She added that the experience highlighted human connection, noting, "I think what we found in doing this, and hopefully what the audience will feel, is that we're connected. We're connected as human beings, and we all go through something... And it's very necessary to pull us all through being human."
In recent interviews while promoting the film, Jolie has also discussed a shift in her mindset and her return to acting. She revealed to Variety that she had largely stopped acting before her 2016 divorce from Brad Pitt, prioritizing directing and international work. "But then suddenly the only way to be home more and for short periods of time being away or to make a good amount of money, was to go back to acting," she explained. During this time, she focused on taking shorter, nearby roles or those where she could bring her children.
Jolie also alluded to her past relationship with Brad Pitt, making remarks about his estranged relationship with their six children, all of whom have reportedly dropped the Pitt surname. Jolie and Pitt share three biological children and three adopted children. The actress stated that her "fighting spirit" has returned, largely crediting her children for encouraging this resurgence. "I got kind of taken down a little bit and it's coming back in large part thanks to my children, who are now older, and encouraging it," she said. She added that her children, now nearly adults, want to see her travel and engage in activities, appreciating that they "still like me, which says a lot."
Meanwhile, the legal battle between Jolie and Pitt over their French winery, Château Miraval, continues. Pitt recently secured a legal decision allowing him to depose members of the Stoli Group, which is associated with the vodka billionaire Yuri Shefler, who purchased Jolie's stake in the vineyard. Jolie's legal team has asserted that these wins have had no impact on the core merits of the case and look forward to a trial next year.
Jolie also hinted at a potential return to dating, noting that she had not dated since her divorce a decade ago. Her role in "Couture," which features her character navigating a romantic relationship, has shifted her perspective. "It took me a second to kind of say, well, she can also love her daughter and be dedicated to her daughter and also need this as a woman and receive this as a woman," she reflected.