Meeting the Icon: Angelina Jolie’s Approachable Presence

The moment we received word that Angelina Jolie was about to step into the room, a collective ripple of excitement swept through us. We straightened in our chairs, posture impeccable, and held our breath, captivated by the promise of her arrival. And then, she walked in – radiant, graceful, and embodying an aura that surpassed every expectation.

Angelina Jolie greeted us with a warm, genuine smile and an open demeanor that immediately put everyone at ease. Her presence was both commanding and incredibly welcoming. Throughout our conversation, she was not just friendly but also remarkably open, authentic, and honest, sharing insights into her life, her craft, and her passions. I am thrilled to share the highlights of our interview, offering a glimpse into her thoughts and the profound impact this experience had on all of us.

Embracing the Darkness: Angelina Jolie on Her Maleficent Role

Our interview began with a fundamental question: what in life had prepared her for the complex and iconic role of Maleficent? What drew her to this particular Disney family film, a character synonymous with villainy yet reimagined with depth and nuance?

Angelina revealed that the script resonated deeply with her, not just as an actress, but profoundly as a woman and a mother. She spoke eloquently about the universal experience of building emotional walls, allowing oneself to become darker, and the struggle to reconnect with the softer, more empathetic person one is inherently born to be. She mused on what powerful force could possibly bring someone back from such a fortified state, emphasizing that the very catalyst for Maleficent’s transformation mirrored a similar journey in her own life. This connection infused her performance with an authenticity that was truly captivating.

“But I was also really moved by it because I thought of myself as a little girl, and I thought of all the kids I know, and I just think of that—that thing of feeling, ah, it, feeling different, feeling outside, and also as a woman, feeling abused and this ideal if you’ve ever been abused and then you kind of, as a woman, put your, put this wall up.”

“And you become darker and you’re not able to be this soft person that you were born to be. And then what could possibly ever bring you back? And the, however much we can say, but the thing that brings her back is very much the thing that brought me back. And so, I was very, very connected to it.” ~Angelina Jolie

This powerful statement underscored her personal investment in the character, transforming Maleficent from a mere villain into a complex figure whose journey of betrayal, heartbreak, and eventual redemption is deeply human and relatable. Angelina’s ability to articulate this connection provided a profound insight into her acting process and the film’s deeper message about healing and the power of love.

A True Family Affair: Maleficent and Motherhood

Angelina also spoke extensively about the profound significance this role held for her as a mother, affirming that Maleficent truly was a family film in every sense. The journey began when her brother, recognizing her perfect fit for the part, called her to insist she contact Disney about the role. More intimately, her youngest daughter, Vivienne, took on the role of young Aurora in the film, making it a truly unique and cherished experience for the Jolie-Pitt family. Their children were often on set daily during filming, leading to many interesting and heartwarming moments that added a special layer to the production.

The process of finding Maleficent’s distinctive voice was a delightful anecdote she shared. Angelina would practice different voices while giving her children baths. Their reactions were her most honest critics – they openly told her which voices made them laugh, which made them cringe, and even occasionally asked her to stop when a particular voice was too unsettling. When she finally landed on the voice used in the film, the kids couldn’t stop laughing. It was then she knew she had found the perfect voice: engaging, captivating, and fun for all ages, striking the right balance between menace and charisma.

Crafting the Character: Costume and Transformation

When asked about seeing herself in the full Maleficent costume for the first time, Angelina expressed immense satisfaction with the final look. Her involvement in the film extended far beyond acting; she was an integral part of the creative process, contributing significantly to the costume creation and overall character design. From the unique colored contact lenses to the intricate costume details, Angelina’s vision helped shape the iconic villain’s appearance.

She recounted an earlier concept that involved a more “feathery” approach to the costumes, which ultimately didn’t feel quite right. The creative team decided that Maleficent needed to perform real, emotional scenes, and her look couldn’t be solely dependent on elaborate makeup or overly stylized elements. The soul of the character, she emphasized, had to shine through the formidable exterior. This collaborative effort ensured that Maleficent’s powerful presence was not just skin deep but an extension of her complex inner world.

The costume itself was so striking and imposing that it elicited strong reactions, even from children on set. Angelina, standing over seven feet tall in the full ensemble, was quite a formidable figure. Youngsters would often run away or become visibly upset upon seeing her in character. This reaction prompted a crucial realization: who among the four or five-year-olds would *not* be scared of her? The answer, perhaps unsurprisingly, was her own daughter, Vivienne. This led to a thoughtful discussion between Angelina and Brad Pitt about whether it was the right decision, as parents, to have their young daughter act opposite such a potentially frightening figure, ultimately deciding it was a unique and manageable opportunity for Vivienne.

Vivienne’s Unscripted Charm: Behind-the-Scenes Fun

It was truly magical to witness the excitement, brightness, and sheer joy that radiated from Angelina’s face as she recounted filming scenes with her daughter, Vivienne. This was clearly a cherished family event, a set of memories they would hold dear for years to come. Her eyes lit up, and her smile broadened as she described the unique challenges and humorous moments of working with a four-year-old on a major movie set.

Angelina shared a particularly endearing anecdote: as any spirited four-year-old might, Vivienne decided that the day of filming was simply not the day she wanted to chase a tennis ball or play in front of the cameras. Angelina recalled the outtakes from that day with great amusement, eager to see them again. She painted a vivid picture: Brad Pitt, ever the supportive partner, was at the edge of a cliff area, dancing and making silly faces, trying every trick to coax Vivienne into jumping into his arms. Meanwhile, Angelina, armed with a stick adorned with a blue ball meant to represent a butterfly, ran alongside, playfully attempting to engage Vivienne in the scene.

With a soft smile and a look of pure contentment, Angelina concluded, “It was lovely. It was lovely to do it,” perfectly encapsulating the joy and warmth of that truly special family experience on set. It was a beautiful testament to the blend of their professional lives with their personal roles as parents.

Beyond the Stardom: Humility, Teamwork, and Balance

I must emphasize Angelina’s remarkable humility and grace throughout our interview. She repeatedly highlighted the incredible teamwork and dedication of the entire crew, speaking of the movie production as a collective achievement rather than an individual triumph. It was clear how intimately involved she was in every facet of the film and how deeply she cherished the collaborative spirit. There was no trace of ego in her comments; only genuine appreciation for every member of the cast and crew who brought Maleficent to life.

Navigating Life as a Mother, Humanitarian, and Actress

When asked the perennial question of how she manages to juggle her multifaceted life as a mother of six, a prominent humanitarian, and a globally recognized actress, Angelina’s response was, once again, steeped in humility and realism. She candidly spoke about the unwavering support of her partner, Brad Pitt, and their thoughtful strategy of taking turns with work commitments. She also emphasized the intentional effort to structure her professional schedule around her children’s needs, prioritizing her family above all else.

“Well I don’t, you know, I, you all know as moms, I’m at a very lucky position. I have a supportive, ah, partner and he and I are able to take turns working often. So, and when you make a film, it doesn’t take all year around. When I direct it does, but I get to decide when I leave in the morning and when I come home at night, and I can edit in my bedroom, and sometimes, and would be there in case there’s an emergency with the children. So I have a very rare luxury with my job to be able to have my kids with me on set every day and home school, and, um, other mothers have it much harder than I do, and don’t have the means to have the assistance I do.”

“I don’t feel like I, by any means, do anything exceptional. My mom was a single mom and she had a lot of difficulty and she gave up her dreams to make sure she could take me to my auditions and support me. And nobody acknowledged her for what she did, you know, so that was hard. But, you know, my-mine’s not too bad at all. I can’t complain.”

Her words were a powerful acknowledgment of the privilege she holds while also expressing deep empathy for other mothers who face far greater challenges without the same resources. She drew a poignant parallel to her own mother’s sacrifices, highlighting the unsung heroism of single mothers and reaffirming her belief that her own journey, while demanding, is made manageable by her support system.

The “Bad Parenting” Moment: A Candid Confession

One of the most unexpectedly candid moments of the interview came when Angelina openly discussed what she jokingly referred to as a “bad parenting” decision, recalling her children’s initial reactions to seeing her in full Maleficent costume.

We asked her what her children thought the first time they saw her completely transformed.

Angelina: “They, well some of, it was, I realized it was a bad idea, it was bad parenting on my part that I should have brought them in early and have them watch me get in my makeup. But I thought it would be really fun to surprise them. And they came on and they did, some of them were fine, they just got a little, you know, quiet. And-and one, Pax, ran away from me. And I made the mistake of thinking he was playing a game and I chased after him. And then realized he was upset.”

“And so, he had to come in the makeup trailer and watch me take everything off. Um, it was interesting because we wondered, we actually wondered about Maleficent, we talked with Disney, like why is she considered the most evil? I mean, obviously what she does, but what is it about children that they see her, and I think that’s what happened to my children. It was that because it’s a woman, and an older woman, its mom. And to my kids it was that a woman that should be like nurturing, the figure that should be nurturing was now the figure that was slightly terrifying.”

“And on top of my kids, the mom had disappeared and they were really wanting to know where mom went. But-but I do, I think that’s actually what’s-why it’s so, why she’s particularly disturbing for children. Why it maybe children will embrace her, because it does feel that you should be safe with an older woman, you know.”

This honest admission, delivered with a touch of self-deprecating humor, was incredibly relatable. Her subsequent analysis of why Maleficent’s character might be particularly unsettling for children – the transformation of a nurturing, maternal figure into something terrifying – was profoundly insightful. It spoke volumes about her ability to connect with complex emotional truths, both as an actress inhabiting a character and as a mother understanding her children’s reactions.

Empowering Change: Angelina Jolie’s Call to Action for Everyday Moms

There was a truly poignant moment during the interview when my eyes welled up with tears, listening intently to Angelina speak. Her candor and unwavering honesty resonated deeply with many of us in the room, touching our hearts and inspiring us profoundly. She spoke not just as an actress, but as a global citizen and a passionate advocate.

When asked how an everyday mom, without the vast resources and platform she possesses, can start small within her own community to make a positive impact and do good for others, her response was both practical and deeply empowering:

Angelina: “Well I think the, you know, first of every mom, the most important thing we do is we raise our children with love and compassion to become great people and thoughtful of others and that’s the most important thing. If everybody did just that, we’d have a very different world.”

“And encourage our children’s education and help them to be conscious of the world around them. I think mothers have the most powerful role. There was even examples of Taliban fighters who stopped because their mothers stopped them. Because the mothers became educated. They couldn’t stop the men, but they, educate the mothers and the mothers got them back home.”

“So the mother’s a powerful thing. I think beyond that it is everybody know it, especially with being online, there is so much to connect to and there is so much that can be done. And-and it is, as you see now with the situation with the Nigerian girls, that’s not government, that’s the masses speaking out. And pushing for government change. And so it’s sometimes doesn’t feel like every voice counts, but it really does.”

“There’s a conference in June I’d love you to be aware of that I’m doing, the Foreign Secretary of England, June tenth to the thirteenth. PSBI, it’s the largest summit ever to end sexual violence in conflict. And it’s in England, it’s open to the public. We’ve realized that it can’t, it’s not just governments, and it’s not just NGO’s, and it’s not just, it’s the, everybody has to come together. So NATO will be there, peace keepers will be there, governments will be there, and it’s open to the public, and NGO’s, and victims, and doctors will be there. So everybody together will spend four days. I think that’s what these things take, it takes all of us very tightly working together.”

Her words were a testament to her profound belief in the power of individual action, starting within the home and extending globally. She underscored the transformative influence of mothers in shaping a compassionate society and, through the powerful example of educated mothers influencing even hardened fighters, highlighted the quiet strength of maternal figures. Furthermore, she championed the collective power of online advocacy, referencing the global outcry for the kidnapped Nigerian girls as proof that every voice, no matter how small, contributes to larger movements for change. She then provided a concrete call to action, urging awareness for the PSBI summit – a critical global initiative to end sexual violence in conflict, emphasizing that true change requires a unified effort from all sectors of society. This segment of the interview truly solidified her image as a powerful advocate for human dignity and global peace.

Reflections on an Inspiring Encounter and What’s Next

Interviewing Angelina Jolie was an experience that transcended the ordinary – it was amazing, profoundly inspirational, and truly an out-of-body moment. She genuinely embodies beauty both inside and out, possessing a rare blend of strength, vulnerability, and genuine compassion. This interview stands out as one of the absolute highlights of an already incredible press trip to Los Angeles, meticulously organized by Disney. Their thoughtful arrangements and the unparalleled opportunities they provided consistently exceeded all expectations, leaving us mind-blown by the access and insights gained.

The journey into the world of Maleficent continues! In the coming weeks, I am eager to share more exclusive interviews. Look forward to hearing from Elle Fanning, who brings the innocent Aurora to life, Sharlto Copley, who portrays the complex King Stefan, and Sam Riley, the actor behind Maleficent’s loyal confidant, Diaval. We also had the privilege of sitting down with the visionary Director, Robert Stromberg, to delve into the creative process behind this captivating film.

Mark your calendars! Maleficent opened in theaters on May 30th!

MALEFICENT is rated PG and was released in theaters everywhere on May 30th!

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