Angelina Jolie, the acclaimed actress and filmmaker, recently opened up about her journey with health and motherhood in an interview with France Inter. She took the courageous step of deciding to have a double mastectomy—not because she had breast cancer, but to prevent her risk of breast cancer. This simple decision has changed the course of her life and the lives of her six kids.
The personal choice Jolie made to undergo this more invasive procedure was strongly rooted in her family history. Her BRCA1 gene mutation left her at high risk for developing breast cancer for the last 13 years. This predisposition to breast cancer struck close to home for Jolie. Her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, ended up losing her battle with ovarian and breast cancer at the young age of 56. In 2013, Jolie publicly shared her medical choice in a New York Times column, explaining that her chances of developing breast cancer had decreased from an alarming 87 percent to under 5 percent following the surgery.
Now a mother to six children—Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne—Jolie emphasized the importance of making informed health decisions. During her interview, she said she has no regrets about having made the decision to have the double mastectomy. I feel very positive about not going,” she told NPR, noting that choice has given her space to prioritize her family without the specter of cancer hanging over her.
Jolie’s dedication to revealing her journeys goes beyond the obvious self-reflection. In her new feature, “Couture,” that director—who is based on Wania—fights her own breast cancer. This new role further emphasizes her dedication to fighting for awareness of women’s health issues. This role not only highlights her acting prowess but serves as a platform to discuss the realities of living with a cancer diagnosis.
Talking to France Inter, the actress discussed her scars, not hiding them. She called them intimidating blessings, intimidating because they were powerful symbols of strength and survival. They celebrate her triumph over a condition that has affected so many families. They serve to further accentuate her evolution as a mother addressing the issues of health and wellness in modern society.
Adopting a proactive, preventative mindset Jolie walks the talk, making proactive choices every day. Each of these decisions enables her to enjoy a satisfying life both professionally and as a parent. Her hopes for her children, now 24 to 17 years old, serve as her inspiration and motivation even to this day. They range from Maddox, 21, Pax, 19, Zahara, 18, Shiloh, 16, to fraternal twins Knox and Vivienne, 14, the last two of whom she shares with ex-husband Brad Pitt.
