Angelina Jolie on Returning to Maleficent: How She Found Strength When She Felt “Pretty Broken”

When Angelina Jolie returned to the screen in 2019’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, audiences saw the same formidable fairy they had met five years earlier—commanding, complex, and undeniably powerful. But behind the scenes, Jolie was in the midst of one of the most challenging chapters of her life.

Promoting the film, she revealed a startling truth: “I’d been coming off a few years of difficulty, and I was not feeling very strong. In fact, I was feeling pretty broken. It took me a moment to feel the strength of [Maleficent] again.”

Her honesty offered a rare glimpse into the emotional toll of her 2016 divorce from Brad Pitt, a period marked by custody battles and personal upheaval. It was a moment of candor that contrasted sharply with Hollywood’s tendency toward polished perfection—and it humanized a global icon.

Vulnerability as Strength
Jolie’s admission wasn’t just a personal confession; it was an act of moral courage. In an industry that often demands invincibility from its stars, she dismantled the facade. By speaking openly about her fragility, she forged a deeper connection with audiences who know the weight of their own brokenness.

“It was a tough time,” she said, matter-of-factly, refusing to romanticize the struggle. Her transparency reframed vulnerability not as weakness, but as the foundation of true resilience.

Healing Through Maleficent
Reprising Maleficent required Jolie to channel a strength she didn’t feel she had. Yet, as she pushed through rehearsals and filming, the role became a vessel for healing. The character’s journey—rising from betrayal, defending her chosen family—mirrored Jolie’s own narrative.

Her determination to “try,” even when drained, underscores a tenacity forged through adversity. The result was a performance imbued with depth, informed by the personal storms she had weathered.

Family at the Core
Jolie credits her six children—Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox—as the true force that kept her moving forward. They joined her in London during filming, providing stability and purpose.

The divorce, she has said, was “for the health of the family,” underscoring her commitment to their well-being. None of her children showed interest in acting; instead, their focus leaned toward business and humanitarian causes, a reflection of the values she’s instilled in them.

A Dual Legacy: Artist and Humanitarian
Even while “broken,” Jolie’s dedication to her craft didn’t waver. As both actress and producer on Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, she influenced everything from costume design to the character’s signature lipstick.

Off-screen, she continued her global advocacy as a UNHCR Special Envoy, championing the rights of refugees and displaced families—a commitment that has earned her accolades like the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

From Pain to Power
Jolie’s journey back to Maleficent wasn’t just about making another film; it was about reclaiming strength in the face of personal trials. By allowing audiences to see both her struggle and her triumph, she transformed a blockbuster sequel into something more profound—a testament to the resilience that comes from vulnerability, and to the quiet nobility of refusing to give up.

If you’d like, I can also rework this into a profile-style feature with richer narrative pacing, more cinematic imagery, and thematic parallels between Jolie and Maleficent for a Vanity Fair-style read. That would make it even more compelling for a long-form magazine spread.