Jolie's transformation from a controversial figure in her early career to a respected humanitarian and actress demonstrates her awareness of the importance of image and her ability to adapt her public persona. She has cultivated a polished appearance and style on and off the red carpet.
Jolie has taken on leadership roles in her humanitarian work, such as serving as a Goodwill Ambassador and later as a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Jolie has spoken about her tendency to push herself too hard and how it has affected her health and personal life, such as in her 2017 Vanity Fair interview where she discussed her split with Brad Pitt and the challenges she faced in her personal life during that time because of her overfocus on work.
Jolie consistently speaks about being competitive in order to be the best that she can be. In her acting career, she has shown this competitive nature by undergoing rigorous physical training for her film roles. For 'Tomb Raider,' she trained for months in kickboxing, weapons handling, and yoga to convincingly portray the action heroine, Lara Croft. As a result of her work ethic and ambition, she has received various prestigious accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Girl, Interrupted" (1999).
Jolie has expanded her career beyond acting, taking on roles as a director, producer, and screenwriter. Films like "In the Land of Blood and Honey" (2011) and "First They Killed My Father" (2017) showcase her ability to adapt and excel in new areas.
As a mother of six, Jolie has managed to maintain a successful career while dedicating time and energy to her family and her philanthropic activities. She speaks about needing to push herself and needing to create new goals and find the next challenge.
In the early stages of her career, Jolie was known for her unconventional and controversial behavior, such as wearing a vial of her then-husband Billy Bob Thornton's blood around her neck, and their public displays of affection.
Jolie's red carpet appearances have often featured daring and memorable fashion choices that attract attention, such as her black velvet Atelier Versace gown with a high slit at the 2012 Academy Awards, which became an iconic moment (this is also indicative of her 4 Wing).
In Their Own Words
"Wherever I am, I'm looking for the next goal, the next step."
"I'm very competitive, and I want to create the best work I can."
"I've always been very determined, ever since I was a little girl, to make my way."
"I like to push myself, and I like to do things that are not easy for me."
"I'm just getting a better relationship with myself, so I can know myself better, so I can be better at what I do."
"Make bold choices and make mistakes. It's all those things that add up to the person you become."
"I want to be of value to the world and to be part of the solution and not the problem."
"If you ask people what they've always wanted to do, most people haven't done it. That breaks my heart."
"Without pain, there would be no suffering; without suffering, we would never learn from our mistakes."
"I never felt settled or calm. You can't really commit to life when you feel that."
Photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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