Angelina Jolie Says Her Kids “Saved” Her During the “Dark” Time After Brad Pitt Divorce

“I would’ve gone under in a much darker way had I not wanted to live for them.”

Angelina Jolie’s Show-Stopping Red Carpet Style

Angelina Jolie opened up about how motherhood has changed her life for the better in a new interview.

The actor spoke vulnerably about being a single mom to six children, whom she shares with ex-husband Brad Pitt. The kids include 22-year-old Maddox, 19-year-old Pax, 18-year-old Zahara, 17-year-old Shiloh, and 15-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

“I was 26 when I became a mother,” she said during the interview. “My entire life changed. Having children saved me—and taught me to be in this world differently. I think, recently, I would’ve gone under in a much darker way had I not wanted to live for them. They’re better than me, because you want your children to be. Of course I’m the mother, and hopefully that safe place for them and that stability. But I’m also the one that they laugh at—and I see them taking over so many different aspects of our family.”

When it comes to having her kids join her for high-profile, red carpet events, Jolie said, “I don’t tell the kids how to dress. Even when they were little, I just put things in front of them.” She added, “Nobody has to go anywhere if they don’t want to, and if they don’t want to dress up, they don’t have to.”

AXELLE/BAUER-GRIFFIN//GETTY IMAGES

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Jolie also hinted at the hurt her family experienced following her divorce from Pitt back in 2017.

Explaining how clothes can affect feelings, she said: “Sometimes the way you dress says, ‘Don’t mess with me—I’ve got my armor on.’ But I want a woman to feel safe enough that she can be soft. After I went through something where I was hurt, I had a therapist ask if I would try wearing a flowing garment. Sounds silly, but I assumed that pants and boots projected a ‘tougher’ look, a stronger me. But was I strong enough to be soft? At the time, no. I felt vulnerable. Now I wonder if I don’t know what my style is because I’m still understanding who I am at 48. I guess I’m in transition as a person.”

She continued, “I feel a bit down these days. I don’t feel like I’ve been myself for a decade, in a way, which I don’t want to get into.”

The Eternals actor began to take on less film projects “seven years ago, only taking jobs that didn’t require long shoots.” In the aftermath of her split with Pitt, she said, “We had a lot of healing to do. We’re still finding our footing.”

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at the 2014 Oscars
AXELLE/BAUER-GRIFFIN//GETTY IMAGES

Jolie previously talked about her parenting style in an interview for Harper’s Bazaar’s December 2019–January 2020 cover story.

“The part of us that is free, wild, open, curious can get shut down by life. By pain or by harm,” she said at the time. “My children know my true self, and they have helped me to find it again and to embrace it. They have been through a lot. I learn from their strength. As parents, we encourage our kids to embrace all that they are, and all that they know in their hearts to be right, and they look back at us and want the same for us.”