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Fans of Angelina Jolie may be seeing a lot less of her on the big screen in the future. The 38-year-old star says she wants to focus more on her humanitarian work as a United Nations special envoy and campaigner against sexual violence in wars.
"I won't be retiring from films completely, but I am going to focus more on writing and directing," she said during a visit to Japan. "I'll be more selective and only make films I feel compelled to do."
Jolie was in Japan last week with four of her children to promote the Disney film "Maleficent," a retelling of the Wicked Witch in the "Sleeping Beauty" fable. The film, which Jolie also produced, focuses on what made the Wicked Witch (played by Jolie) so evil.
For Jolie, the theme reflects a real-life issue she is deeply interested in -- abuse of children. She said she hopes "Maleficent" will send a message to children to help them really understand who somebody is, and not just judge them by what they seem to be.
"How did the Wicked Witch get that way? Why is she angry? Was she hurt as a child? No one is born a 'Wicket Witch,'" she said. "Children are innocent and trusting and sadly, for many, at some point in their life, they are bullied, hurt or made to feel bad...and they change. When they are hurt, it's natural for them to want to hurt someone back and get even, because children don't have the capacity to forgive like adults. It's only when you can truly forgive that you achieve the real victory."
However, Jolie admitted it is not easy to forgive. She said her children had changed her life and were her happiness. "If someone were to hurt me, I think I could forgive them, but if someone where to hurt my children, I'm not sure I could forgive them."
Jolie said that it is important for such victims to know that there will always be someone who appreciates them and to seek out those people, "and not ignore the wonderful men and women who do support them."
"Maleficent" opens in Japan on July 5.
© Japan Today
10 Comments
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Gary Hawaii
We don't need another one of her bad movies.
Serrano
Angelina and Brad need to make Mr. & Mrs. Smith 2 with an even more ferocious fight scene between them, but if it's actually any more ferocious than their first one, they'll need CG or hospitalization...
Novenachama
Angelina Jolie is not only a great actress and director, she is a selfless and wonderful humanitarian and contributor to the great work for women's issues around the world. Since becoming a UN Ambassador, Angelina Jolie has completed over 40 mission trips, visiting over 30 countries in her quest to aid those in need. She has stated that in countries where people have to flee their homes because of persecution and violence, political solutions must be found, peace and tolerance restored, so that refugees can return home. In her experience, going home is the deepest wish of most refugees. When we think of Angelina Jolie, we are not going to think of her as just a beautiful face, but also the wonderful humanitarian things she has done to make this world a better place.
sensei258
I applaud her efforts. I wish more of Hollywood's elite would put others before themselves like she has. And anyone who has the guts to get a double mastectomy to prevent breast cancer (it runs in her family) deserves a little respect I think.
Fouxdefa
Looking forward to her movie Unbroken (from an American POW's autobiography).
Why not use your fame and money to give back and make some positive change in the world? Good for her.
smithinjapan
She's done some flicks that weren't good, and she's done some that were good, but in any case she is doing the world good by helping those who need it. I hope she succeeds in her cause.
Moderator
Readers, there is no need to insult Ms Jolie.
boweevil
That's good news all round...How badly does the world need another Jolie movie? On the other hand it needs all the humanitarian help it can get...One can only hope her humanitarian efforts are more meaningful than the bulk of her films.
MarkG
While a good cause its more to it than her analogy. And he resume for such work? .......fame.
Her career is to deceive, not a sociologist.