Angelina Jolie Credits Daughter Vivienne as the Spark Behind Broadway Hit The Outsiders

Angelina Jolie has built her career on navigating vastly different worlds—Oscar-winning actress, humanitarian, director, and advocate for refugees and women’s rights. But her latest creative endeavor reveals another facet of her identity: mother as collaborator. In a recent reflection, Jolie revealed that her 15-year-old daughter Vivienne was not only the driving force behind the Broadway musical The Outsiders but also an integral part of its success, serving as what Jolie fondly called a “really tough assistant.”

The musical, which went on to win four Tony Awards in June 2024—including Best Musical—was more than just another production for Jolie. It began with Vivienne’s passion. After attending multiple performances of an early workshop of The Outsiders at La Jolla Playhouse, Vivienne urged her mother to see it. That nudge turned into a transformative journey for both mother and daughter.

Empathy at the Heart of Collaboration

For Jolie, the decision to produce The Outsiders was as much about connection as it was about art. She had read S.E. Hinton’s coming-of-age novel and seen Francis Ford Coppola’s film adaptation years earlier, but watching the stage production alongside Vivienne was different.

“I was really watching the effect it was having on my young daughter and what she was telling me about herself,” Jolie explained. The show’s raw portrayal of belonging, pain, and resilience mirrored the challenges and perspectives Vivienne herself was grappling with. Jolie saw in this not just a compelling story, but a way to engage with her daughter’s inner world during what she calls “difficult times” for young people today.

Generosity That Creates Space for Others

Jolie didn’t stop at bringing Vivienne to rehearsals—she officially brought her on board as a production assistant. Vivienne embraced the role fully, attending every stage of development and even providing notes that impressed the creative team, including director Danya Taymor.

Far from being a token gesture, Jolie says her daughter’s involvement was authentic and substantive. Vivienne’s influence helped shape the production, and Jolie was quick to credit her as a catalyst for the show’s success. “She’s a young artist who focuses her efforts on her support of others,” Jolie said, underscoring how the opportunity was as much about empowering Vivienne as it was about producing a hit musical.

Humility in the Spotlight

Despite her decades in the public eye, Jolie approached this project with a humility that let her daughter take the lead in certain moments. She recalls Vivienne reminding her to check memos, follow timelines, and stick to production protocols. “She takes it very, very seriously,” Jolie said with pride.

For Jolie, The Outsiders was less about adding another accolade to her career and more about “a moment to learn more about Viv.” That willingness to defer, listen, and learn—even from her own child—underscores a groundedness rarely seen in Hollywood.

By blending empathy, generosity, and humility, Angelina Jolie turned a Broadway venture into a shared mother-daughter milestone. In doing so, she not only helped deliver one of the most celebrated productions of the year but also demonstrated that her most meaningful work might just be nurturing the passions of the next generation—starting at home.