Angelina Jolie: The Bold and Beautiful Actress- Activist
As one of Hollywood’s most dazzling and iconic stars, Angelina Jolie has done more than just captivate audiences with her stunning beauty and remarkable acting performances. She has also redefined what it means to be a celebrity, using her fame and influence to advocate for several humanitarian issues around the world. From her mainstream film roles to her efforts on global issues, Angelina Jolie has truly become an exemplary role model and figure of inspiration.
Early Years
Angelina Jolie was born on June 4, 1975 in Los Angeles, California. Not only did her parents work in the entertainment industry, but they were also two of the actors who heavily influenced Jolie in her pursuit of the arts. Her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, was an acclaimed actress, while her father, Jon Voight, was an Academy Award winner. During her teenage years, Jolie developed an interest in writing, and her parents encouraged her in her creativity by sending her to the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute for acting. In 1993, Jolie graduated from the top-notch High School Professional Children’s School in New York City and officially began her acting career.
Breakthrough Performance
It has been said that everything good needs time to develop – and soon enough TV and movie producers through out Hollywood started to take notice of Jolie’s talent. After a few small roles in movies such as “Cyborg 2” and “Hackers”, Angelina Jolie’s true breakout performance came in 1999, when she acted alongside Brad Pitt in the famous movie “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”. From that moment, she rose to global stardom and her career skyrocketed.
Noted Performances
From 1999 on, Angelina Jolie became a household name as an actress. Some of her most critically acclaimed performances have been:
• “Girl, Interrupted” (1999): In this powerful drama, Jolie portrayed a character with unpredictable mood swings and tumultuous history, earning her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
• “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” (2001): At the time, Jolie was the perfect choice to embody the tough but glamorous Lara Croft, becoming the highest paid actress in Hollywood.
• “A Mighty Heart” (2007): Jolie starred in this Tony Scott directed docudrama based on the survivors of Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl, earning her nominations for “Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama” at the Golden Globe Awards and the Satellite Awards.
• “Salt” (2010): Jolie played the role of an undercover CIA agent framed as a Russian spy, and earned herself numerous awards such as the MTV Movie Awards and the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Action Movie Star.
Activist and Philanthropic Efforts
For many, Angelina Jolie is known for much more than being an exceptional actress. Throughout the years, Jolie has become increasingly involved in philanthropic and activist efforts across the globe. She is an honorary member and Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Some of her most notable efforts for social good include:
• Spearheading numerous educational and self-empowerment initiatives for women, children and refugees in developing countries
• Writing powerful op-eds advocating for human rights through the New York Times and Washington Post
• Advocating against human rights violations and providing aid support to Darfur
• Launching the “Prevent Sexual Violence In Conflict Initiative” in 2012, which included visiting women personally affected by rape and conflict in Syria
• Directing the documentary “The Breadwinner,” to help tell the story of lost child education in Afghanistan
These are just some examples of the many humanitarian efforts Jolie has committed to, and her passionate commitment to justice has earned her the Global Humanitarian Action Award from the U.N., an honorary Dame Commander in the Order of St Michael and St George, and many other awards throughout her career.
Family Life
Just as she has throughout her career, Angelina Jolie serves as an iconic figure in her personal life as well. She has been happily married to actor Brad Pitt since 2014, and her marriage with him has provided her with a supportive and inspiring shared life with him, which consists of raising their six children. This also includes Jolie’s two adopted children from Cambodia and Ethiopia, and the three biological children they’ve had together, Pax, Shiloh, and the twins Knox and Vivienne.
Future Plans
The list of charitable and philanthropic works and awards Angelina Jolie has achieved only continues to grow, and many of the projects she is currently working on show that she is not slowing down any time soon. For instance, she is working with the International Criminal Court – an institution which focuses on bringing perpetrators of violence to justice – as a Special Envoy. She is also developing a filmmaker center in Los Angeles to help new talent in Hollywood.
Angelina Jolie is without a doubt one of the most celebrated women in the world, and her versatile talents and resilience are truly inspiring. Each project she puts her mark on and effort she puts forth shows that no obstacle is too big and she can take on anything put in front of her. From her passionate performances in Hollywood to her unwavering commitment to humanitarian efforts around the world, Angelina Jolie has truly earned her place as one of the boldest and most beautiful actresses-activists of our generation.