Angelina Jolie said she had withdrawn from directing to return to acting due to a ‘change in her family situation’.
After establishing herself as one of the most bankable box office stars in the early 2000s, she devoted much of her time to directing the 2010s, although she now insisted that a continued pursuit of directing became ‘impossible’.
The star made her directorial debut in In The Land of Blood and Honey in 2011, followed by Unbroken, By the Sea in 2014 and First They Killed My Father in 2017.
Although she did not specify what the ‘change’ was, Angelina, 45, has been embroiled in a long-running custody battle with ex-husband Brad Pitt since 2016 after their split after more than ten years together and more than two years of marriage.
Changes are being made: Angelina Jolie said she withdrew from the assignment to return to acting due to a ‘change in her family situation’
Asked about her move towards directing, Angelina said the move is due to her family, but directing is still a passion for her.
She candidly told Entertainment Weekly: ‘I love directing, but I’ve had a change in my family situation that has not made it possible for me to direct for a few years.
‘I just had to do shorter work and be more at home, so I did some acting. That’s really the truth of it. ‘
Angelina and Brad have been waging war over their children for five years, and Brad strives for 50/50 supervision, while Angelina wants full physical supervision.
Family: Angelina talked about how a ‘change in my family situation’ has led her to act more as a director lately
They announced their split in 2016 and were legally divorced in 2019, but things are far from friendly between the two as she continues to commit abuse.
She has six children, three of whom have been adopted – Maddox (19), Pax (17) and Zahara (16), and three with Brad – Shiloh (14) and twins Knox and Vivienne (12).
Since children Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne are minors, Brad and Angelina must give permission for them to testify, but Maddox, Zahara and Pax are all over 18, so they will be free to make statements.
The By the Sea filmmaker earlier admitted that she thinks she ‘does not’ have the skills to be a traditional homemaker.
Back then: although she did not specify what the ‘change’ was, Angelina, 45, has been embroiled in a long-running custody battle with ex-husband Brad Pitt since 2016 after their split after more than a decade together and more than two years . years of marriage (pictured in 2015)
New movies: The actress actually has two live action movies appearing this year – the first time this has happened to her since 2010, when she had Salt and The Tourist
She said in February: ‘I have never been very quiet. I feel like I do not have enough skills to be a traditional mom at home.
‘Although I wanted to have many children and be a mother, I always imagined, like Jane Goodall, that I had traveled somewhere in the jungle. I did not imagine it in that true, traditional sense. ‘
The actress has two live action films appearing this year – the first time this has happened to her since 2010, when she had Salt and The Tourist.
Those Who Want Me Dead debuts on May 14 in theaters and on HBO Max with her highly anticipated debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Eternals arriving on November 5th.
Family situation: ‘I like directing, but I had a change in my family situation that did not allow me to direct for a few years,’ she said.
Angelina’s new film First They Killed My Father also points to her return to stunt work, adding how much she admires the voice of writer-director (and former actor) Taylor Sheridan, who attracted her to the film.
She said: ‘He has a unique voice when it comes to characters in America, who have never focused on my work before. I wanted to be with him in this world.
She added that her experience as a director also changed her approach as an actor.
Six children: Angelina has six children, three of whom – Maddox, 19, Pax, 17 and Zahara, 16 – have been adopted internationally, and three with Pitt – Shiloh, 14 and 12-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne
Angelina added: ‘In many technical terms, I’m more aware of what the director needs and what other challenges they face, and how many different pieces move …
“Maybe when you are younger and experiencing a great day where you have to be cold and wet and emotional and crying, you think of things …
‘Now you’ve led and you’re older, and you realize that while you’re going to freeze and cry, there’s also pyrotechnics or various other situations going on. It’s taking you out of yourself ‘.
Approach: She added that her experience as a director also changed her approach as an actor