Angelina Jolie Says She Is ‘Never First’ as a Mom to 6 Children

Angelina Jolie is discussing the “beautiful” way life changes with motherhood.

The 49-year-old actress spoke about the shift in focus her life took after welcoming children during a new interview with CR Fashion Book, published on Friday, Sept. 20.

Talking of the lessons she’s learned from her six kids, Jolie, who appears on the cover of the publication’s October issue, said, “There are too many to count or name just one. But the moment you become a parent you are never first again. Your life is for another. It’s a beautiful feeling.”

Jolie is mom to sons Maddox, 23, and Pax, 20, daughters Zahara, 19, Shiloh, 18, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Brad Pitt. 

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The actress and activist also revealed the special way in which she has bonded with her kids — by getting tattoos together.

Jolie shared that she and her daughter Vivienne got matching tattoos marking their special time working together on the Broadway musical The Outsiders, of which Jolie was one of the lead producers and Vivienne a volunteer assistant.

“I got ‘Stay Gold’ with my daughter Viv during our time with The Outsiders,” the actress said. The phrase refers to the title of one of the original tunes featured in the play. “It means so much to us separately and together.”

Jolie debuted the ink on her wrist in April at the opening night of the play, where it could be seen sitting among her other famous tattoos.

In her new interview with CR Fashion Book, the mom of six also spoke about getting body ink with her other children, though she did not reveal whom. “There is also a Bird that I share with some of my children that is personal to us,” she said.

The actress has previously spoken about closeness to her children, talking to the WSJ. Magazine in December 2023 about their bond.

“They are the closest people to me and my life, and they’re my close friends,” she said to the outlet at the time, adding, “We’re seven very different people, which is our strength.”

Meanwhile, the actress also appeared in a stunning cover shoot alongside her interview for CR Fashion Book, where as well as talking about being a mom, she also discussed managing her fashion brand Atelier Jolie and her role as opera singer Maria Callas in the upcoming film Maria. 

Speaking about preparing for the role, Jolie shared that she went through seven months of opera training for the part. “[Director] Pablo [Larraín] expected me to learn, to really sing … to understand and study opera, to immerse completely and do the work,” she said. “… But it was much more than that, it was to understand Maria Callas and be able to play the character.”

Jolie described the training as an “emotional” experience and “the therapy I didn’t realize I needed.”

“I had no idea how much I was holding in and not letting out,” she recalled. “So, the challenge wasn’t the technical, it was an emotional experience to find my voice, to be in my body, to express. You have to give every single part of yourself … Everything that you’ve got.”

Netflix has acquired the rights to Maria, but a release date has not yet been announced.