Angelina Jolie says her eldest sons saw ‘the pain’ she usually keeps hidden from them as they work together on the set of her new film Maria.
Maddox Jolie-Pitt, 23, and Pax Jolie-Pitt, 21, worked as production assistants on Maria, a biographical psychological drama film about opera singer Maria Callas.
Jolie, 49, who plays Callas in the biopic, revealed the character is in “a lot of pain” – which she channeled to her sons on the film set.
“Of course they’ve seen me through a lot, but they hadn’t seen me express a lot of the pain that a parent normally hides from a child,” the actress told the BBC.
Jolie talked about how Maddox and Pax would give her a “hug” or “bring me cups of tea” after her emotional outbursts. The actress says the experience helped her find a “new” and “even better way” to be honest about her feelings with her family.
Maria – which already created Oscars buzz after the trailer’s release – arrived on Netflix on December 11.
The star’s latest emotional revelation comes just days after she opened up about feeling lonely and ‘in a strange way’ ahead of her bitter court battle with ex-husband Brad Pitt.
The former A-List couple – who split eight years ago with Angelina accusing Pitt of abuse – are in the middle of a bitter legal battle over their French vineyard.
Angelina Jolie, pictured on the Stitches set yesterday, says her eldest sons saw ‘the pain’ she usually hides from them as they worked together on the set of her new film Maria
Maddox Jolie-Pitt, 23, and Pax Jolie-Pitt, 21, worked as production assistants on Maria, a biographical psychological drama film about opera singer Maria Callas. Maddox was also pictured on the Stitches set yesterday
Speak with The sun On Saturday at a hotel in London, Angelina revealed that the trait she shares with opera star Callas is loneliness.
‘I have my children who I love, but as an adult I am often alone. I find myself identifying with the loneliness and loneliness that she has,” she said.
‘I also haven’t quite figured out how to live life in a way where I’m alone, maybe a lot of artists feel like we’re in an open space as a person.
Jolie recently scored a major legal victory against Pitt after a judge ruled that he must hand over documents and communications that could prove he abused the actress and their children.
The ongoing dispute has led to the feuding exes attacking each other in legal filings since Pitt sued Jolie in 2022 for the sale of her stake in their Chateau Miraval estate, which produces an award-winning sparkling rosé.
Legal filings seen by DailyMail.com show the communications Pitt, 60, is ordered to produce begin the day Jolie claims he abused her on a private plane, shortly before their 2016 divorce.
She previously accused him of pouring red wine and beer on his ex and one of the couple’s children on a private plane.
Pitt has always denied any abuse and was cleared by police after an investigation – although his ex-wife claimed in the filings that his “history of physical abuse” began “well before” the plane incident.
Pax Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Zahara Jolie and Maddox Jolie-Pitt at the red carpet premiere of ‘Maria’ during the 62nd New York Film Festival held at Alice Tully Hall on September 29, 2024
The beauty was first spotted earlier this month shooting night scenes for Stitches while outside a bistro in the city – just days after breaking her toe
Jolie is no stranger to collaborating with her children on her own projects, and recently collaborated with Maddox and Pax on the biopic Maria – which officially dropped on Netflix on December 11.
Jolie was spotted with her son Maddox on the set of her latest project, Stitches, in Paris on Wednesday. The 23-year-old is working as the third assistant director on the film.
The star – who was busy filming the fashion drama in France – was seen on camera filming in a wig shop and later in a hospital courtyard.
Maddox was also seen strolling around the set wearing an all-black ensemble after recently being hired as a third assistant director for Stitches, DailyMail.com learned earlier this week.
Along with Maddox, Angelina’s daughter Zahara, 19, has also been spotted on the set of the fashion drama in France – although it is not yet known if she will also have a role in the project.
Jolie shares Maddox, Zahara, Pax, 21, Shiloh, 18, as well as twins Knox and Vivienne, 16, with ex Brad Pitt.
The star’s latest emotional revelation comes just days after she opened up about being lonely and ‘in a strange way’ ahead of her bitter court battle with ex-husband Brad Pitt, pictured at the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit on December 8.
Pax Jolie-Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the ‘Maria’ premiere during the 62nd New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall on Sunday, September 29, 2024
Jolie is no stranger to collaborating with her children on her own projects, and recently collaborated with Maddox and Pax on the biopic Maria.
Notably, Maddox enrolled at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, but has since set his foot in the film industry.
When it comes to working with his mother, the 23-year-old says the Hollywood star is “fun, funny and easy to work with.”
During a recent interview with Sunday times, the actress discussed her two children helping Maria.
“They were able to think about the relationships in the film and the violence – things that sometimes you can’t discuss with your sons, so I felt happy.”
And as we talked before The Hollywood Reporter in August, she further reflected on giving her children the opportunity to gain experience on set.
“Mad and Pax were here. do AD [assistant directing] work. They’ve done that a few times, and I think it’s good for them,” she says.
‘Pax tends to do stills and he gets called in, and [director] Pablo was great and realized he was good at it.”
While working on new projects, Angelina is also in the middle of an ongoing divorce battle with ex Brad Pitt; former couple seen in 2015 in Hollywood
Jolie also revealed the reason why she decided to step back from the camera – explaining that she didn’t need to be home with her kids as much.
‘They are a bit older and are becoming more independent. I am needed less and can therefore leave for different periods.’
She added, “And they’re old enough to work with me. It’s a new season in our lives. I really like that they are coming into their own more every day.’