Angelina Jolie opens up about the «new approach» she’s using to be honest with her children about the «pain» that parents often try to conceal.
Angelina Jolie is sharing how difficult it was to conceal her pain from her children while working on her new film, *Maria*.
In an interview with the BBC about her experience filming the biopic, which she worked on alongside her two eldest sons, Maddox, 23, and Pax, 21—who both served as production assistants—Jolie, 49, reflected on how her sons saw her express pain in a way they hadn’t witnessed before.
“They’ve seen me go through many challenges, but they hadn’t seen me express the kind of pain that parents typically try to shield their children from,” Jolie admitted.
She explained that portraying her emotions through her character offered her «a new way» of being open with her children about her feelings—»an even deeper way.»
Thankfully, her sons Maddox and Pax, whom Jolie shares with her ex-husband Brad Pitt, were always there to comfort her during emotional moments.
“They were there to witness some of that,» Jolie shared, «but then we would hug, or they would bring me cups of tea.»
«I’ve been a parent for 23 years. The most beautiful part of being a parent is that you’re no longer the center of your own life. You leave the set, focused on someone else. That’s your true life.
That’s the real world. And that always forms the majority of who you are,» the mother of six explained.
She went on to say, «I’ve never had a set where my family couldn’t be present because I was focusing—I’m just not that kind of person. They can climb all over me or come visit whenever they want.»
«It truly meant a lot that my boys were with me on *Maria*,» she added.
«One of the most intense aspects was that—typically, when I’m experiencing that level of pain, it’s not in front of my kids,» she confessed.
«As parents, you try to shield your children from seeing the extent of the pain and sadness you carry.»
Jolie then lightheartedly remarked, «That’s usually something I save for the shower.»
