• Angelina Jolie appreciates aging as she nears 50, inspired by losing her mother young.
• She balances her career and family life with six children and humanitarian work through the MJP Foundation.
• Her mother’s passion for acting and the arts deeply shaped Jolie’s life and career.

Angelina Jolie Looks Forward to Turning 50 and Embracing Aging

Angelina Jolie will celebrate her 50th birthday on June 4. She feels positive about growing older. Losing her mother at a young age gives her a deeper appreciation for every year she lives. A source told PEOPLE that Jolie values aging because her mom died too soon. Now, Jolie focuses more on her foundation work since her family needs her less. She finds new meaning in this stage of her life.

Jolie’s Strong Family Ties and Caring Role

Angelina shares six children with her ex-husband Brad Pitt. Their kids include Maddox, 23, Pax, 21, Zahara, 20, Shiloh, 19, and twins Knox and Vivienne, both 16. Jolie stays close to her children and takes her role as a mother seriously. Despite her busy career, she makes time for her family. Her children also inspire her to keep pushing forward in life and work.

The MJP Foundation: Helping Communities in Cambodia

Jolie founded the MJP Foundation in 2003. She named it after her son Maddox, who was born in Cambodia. The foundation focuses on helping poor communities in Cambodia. Jolie works to improve the lives of people living in extreme poverty. Her humanitarian efforts show her dedication beyond the screen. She uses her platform to bring attention to important causes.

Red Carpet Return at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival

Recently, Jolie appeared at the Cannes Film Festival. She attended the Trophée Chopard dinner and wowed everyone with her presence. This event marked her return to the red carpet after a busy awards season. Jolie received praise for her role in the film Maria. The biopic tells the story of legendary opera singer Maria Callas. Directed by Pablo Larraín, the movie showcases Jolie’s talent and passion.

How Her Mother Inspired Her to Act

Jolie spoke to W magazine about her mother’s influence on her career. Marcheline Bertrand wanted Jolie to become an actress. Jolie said acting was her mother’s dream for her. Marcheline had tried acting herself but gave it up to raise her children. Jolie feels her early steps into acting happened because it made her mother happy.

Marcheline’s Journey from Acting to Motherhood

Marcheline auditioned for theater roles in Chicago and film and TV roles in Los Angeles. By the time she was 25, she divorced actor Jon Voight. She decided to focus on motherhood after that. Jolie has a brother, James Haven, from the same parents. Her mother loved being a stay-at-home mom and gave full attention to her family.

Jolie revealed that acting helped her mother pay the bills during her childhood. Marcheline worked as Jolie’s manager for a time. Acting brought the family closer and helped them stay afloat. This connection made Jolie’s career even more personal.

Jolie said acting felt harder after her mother died. She realized her career had been more for her mother than for herself. This realization made acting emotional and sometimes difficult. Yet, Jolie pushed through and honored her mother’s dreams.

A Lasting Legacy of Theater and Literature

At the Gotham Awards, Jolie talked about her mother’s love for books and theater. This passion shaped both Jolie and her brother James Haven. Marcheline’s dedication to the arts stayed with them throughout their lives.

Childhood Memories of Books and Art

Jolie shared a vivid memory of her mother keeping books inside the oven. Their small home had more books than shelves. This showed how important knowledge and art were in their family. Despite struggles, Marcheline always put culture and education first.

How Theater Became a Family Priority

Marcheline took Jolie to plays and introduced her to great writers like Tennessee Williams. She also brought Jolie to the Lee Strasberg Institute, where Jolie later studied acting. This foundation helped Jolie grow into the actor and humanitarian she is today.

Growing Older with Gratitude and Purpose

Angelina Jolie’s path reflects love, loss, and strength. She appreciates aging because it reminds her of her mother’s early death. At the same time, she continues to honor her mother’s dreams through acting and charity. Turning 50 marks a meaningful milestone for Jolie. It symbolizes her legacy and her drive to keep making a difference in the world.