Straight from the heart

When she arrives for our interview, it is 3 p.m. but Angelina has already had a full day.  Up early this morning, she says she spent time with her children before embarking on a whirlwind press tour around Cannes.  Wherever she goes, the flash-bulbs follow, shadowing her every step.  But if Angelina is overwhelmed, she doesn’t show it. 

Ann Curry: I think most people have a hard time understanding how you can possibly deal with this spotlight you’re under.  I mean, just to do this interview I’m told somebody was trying to climb the fence just to be involved in doing this interview, people wanted to interview me.

I don’t understand this crazy world you’re in.  I only dip into it for a few moments and dip out.  And so how do you even handle this?  It’s crazy, Angelina.  This is—this is—

Jolie:  You’re really making me feel uncomfortable...cause I really felt it was fine.

Curry:  No, no.  I’m sorry.  I’m—

Jolie:  I didn’t even know about a person getting—

Curry:  There’s so much intensity involving you.  And I don’t understand it.

Jolie: I take my kids to school.  And if I go to work, I go to work and they visit me on set.  I come home.  I have dinner with my family.  I have breakfast with my family.  I have a very solid, very warm—home. 

Over the last five years Angelina has adopted three children: Maddox from Cambodia, daughter Zahara from Ethiopia and just this year, Pax from Vietnam. Shiloh, her biological child with Brad Pitt arrived last May. Angelina says her family life is “normal.” 

Jolie:  I’m very fortunate.

Curry: Yeah, but can I say, they’re saying in the paper that you’re breaking up with Brad.  They’re saying in the paper that, you know, you’re not spending enough time with your kids.  I mean, there’s all this stuff in the paper that if it was about me, I mean, maybe I don’t have as thick a skin as you do.  But I would be upset.  I’d be angry.  I’d be furious.

Jolie:  I’m not.

Curry: (LAUGHTER) Why aren’t you?

Jolie:  Because my kids are happy and healthy and we have a very solid family.  And I am fortunate enough to have a job and go to work and we get to travel and—and do a lot of great things in the world and meet amazing people.  And I have a very, very—I’m just very fortunate in my life. 

At the end of the day I’m gonna be dead one day, and what people say about me is going what I accomplished and what I did in my life and how my children are. And I don’t think it’s gonna be what was printed in the tabloids this year.

Curry: But you know what?  I think of you as being someone who cares about her reputation. I know I care about my reputation.  I want people to think well of me.

Jolie:  Well, I do a bit.  But I know that people who I interact with across the world and are the people I interact with when I do the different work I do in the field.  I know the people who I take seriously and I work with in my life.  And—and those people I’m able to work with and they know the truth, and they don’t seem to be confused.  And we move on and I get my things done. 

I’ve never lived my life in the opinion of others.  I believe I’m a good person.  I believe I’m a good mom.  But that’s for my kids to decide, not for the world. 

One thing’s for sure: There’ll be plenty of voices when the votes are ready to be tallied.

Curry: Your family is big.

Jolie:  It is big.  Yeah. (LAUGHTER)

Curry: I saw you with two beautiful children, pregnant.  And now you have four.  And I’m the oldest of five.  I know… Big family.  A lot of noise.  A lot of fun.  Screaming.  Fights?

Jolie: Uh-huh.

Curry:  A lot of love.

Jolie:  Yeah. Great

Curry: What’s the best part of being a mother of four?

Jolie:  It’s just—you know, they are just my favorite people.  They are just so much fun.  And I get to watch who they’re becoming every day and I’m so excited I get to be their mom, you know?

Curry:  But they’re all under the age of six, Angelina.  And I know what that sounds like—

Jolie:  --chaos.  Yeah.  They’re at a hotel.  They’re ruining a villa as we speak. (LAUGHTER) They are.  They are.  I’m sure I’ll find markers on the walls—

And when it’s time to clean up the mess, Angelina has at least one helping hand.

Curry: People don’t realize how much children affect a relationship

Jolie: Oh yeah

Curry: They do

Jolie: They do. But we’re both very fortunate that we can make decisions about our career.  We can make decisions to take off big chunks of time.  And we, you know, we take turns working.  So one of us is always at home.  So we’re always together, which is which is a luxury. 

Angelina realized just how important it is to have a partner when Mariane Pearl came to visit her in Namibia to discuss making “A Mighty Heart.” She wondered how Mariane could possibly have endured her pregnancy, alone and afraid that the father of her child was dead.

Jolie: We were in Namibia and I was six months pregnant. I couldn’t help but suddenly look over at this woman and think, "God, she is where I’m at now. But I have this man with me who’s helping me through this and loves me."

And it’s a joyous moment.  And we’re about to also have a baby, and we’re gonna look at this baby together across the room at each other.  And it’s all those things that make that so much more.

MORE FROM JOLIE INTERVIEW

Jolie interview Section Front

Angelina Jolie on film, family, and the future Jolie: I have a lot to be happy about Pitt on rebuilding New Orleans, fatherhood Pitt on building an eco-friendly New Orleans Angelina was 'very, very nervous' about new role Jolie, Pitt donate $100,000 to Pearl foundation Newsweek: Angelina Jolie on Refugees and Fame Angelina Jolie commits to world’s children Brangelina won't marry until all couples can Jolie interview Section Front   Add Jolie interview headlines to your news reader: