Angelina Jolie has candidly acknowledged that she is currently undergoing a personal transition as she approaches her 50th birthday.
In her November 2023 Vogue cover story, released online on September 27, Jolie, who is 48, revealed that she has been feeling somewhat down and hasn’t felt like her true self for nearly a decade, although she didn’t delve into the specifics of her feelings. She also shared that she has taken a step back from Hollywood by selectively choosing roles that don’t require long shooting schedules, beginning around 2016. This shift in her career trajectory appears to be connected to the aftermath of her divorce from Brad Pitt.
Jolie explained, “We had a lot of healing to do,” alluding to how the breakup impacted her family. She further mentioned that they are still in the process of finding their footing.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, 59, began their relationship in 2005 and announced their engagement in 2012 before marrying in 2014. Together, they share six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.
Following Jolie’s divorce filing in 2016, she and Pitt became embroiled in a contentious legal battle. Jolie accused Pitt of both physical and emotional abuse toward her and their children during a 2016 flight, allegations that Pitt has consistently denied. While the pair were declared legally single in 2019, they continued to dispute custody arrangements for their minor children.
In 2022, Pitt filed a lawsuit alleging that Jolie had secretly sold his stake in their French winery, Château Miraval, in violation of a prior agreement. In June, Pitt asserted that Jolie had “secretly” divested his shares in the winery as an act of retaliation, according to court documents obtained by Us Weekly at the time.
In the wake of her separation, Jolie is looking forward to the future and is committed to making significant changes in her life. One such transformation is the launch of her Atelier Jolie clothing line. She views this capsule collection as a “forward-facing” step and has found it therapeutic to work creatively with trusted individuals, enabling her to rediscover herself.
Through her clothing line, Jolie aims to empower women to feel comfortable being themselves. She shared that sometimes the way a person dresses can convey strength and a protective barrier, but she’s now considering if she is strong enough to embrace a softer side. She recalled a therapist suggesting she try wearing flowing garments as a way to explore vulnerability after experiencing a difficult period in her life.
Jolie concluded by pondering her own evolving sense of style, noting, “Now I wonder if I don’t know what my style is because I’m still understanding who I am at 48.”