Angelina Jolie’s Biggest Lesson for Her Kids: “I Hope They Don’t Make My Mistakes”

Angelina Jolie, renowned for her extensive humanitarian efforts as much as her Hollywood career, has been open about her childhood struggles and the transformative role charity work played in her life. While her children enjoy a life of privilege, thanks to her immense wealth, Jolie’s upbringing was marked by challenges, self-doubt, and a rebellious streak. Looking back, she believes that engaging in charity work earlier in life might have helped her navigate those formative years in a less destructive way.

Raised in Los Angeles by famous parents—actor Jon Voight and actress Marcheline Bertrand—Jolie’s childhood was not lacking in material comforts. Yet, despite these advantages, she felt a sense of emptiness and internal conflict. In a 2015 interview with The Wall Street Journal, she explained, “I was raised in a place where if you have fame and money and you’re decent-looking and have the ability to work in this industry, you have everything in the world. Then you attain those things and realize you still couldn’t be more empty. I didn’t know where to put myself.”

Jolie’s self-destructive behavior during her youth was, in part, a reflection of the disconnect she felt. Despite having every material possession, she lacked a sense of fulfillment, which led to feelings of confusion and instability. Reflecting on her turbulent years, she said, “I didn’t appreciate or understand my life.” She theorized that had she been involved in charity work earlier, it might have helped her find purpose and stability. “I think it would have got me through my youth easier,” she remarked. “I would have been less self-destructive.”

Jolie’s path to personal growth began while filming Tomb Raider in Cambodia, an experience that drastically changed her perspective. Traveling to Cambodia, she developed a deep curiosity about humanity, which ignited her lifelong passion for human rights. “I realized there was so much about history that I had not been taught in school, and so much about life that I needed to understand. And I was very humbled by it,” she told Tuscaloosa News.

Since that pivotal moment, Jolie has worked tirelessly to raise awareness for global issues, support nonprofit organizations, and advocate for human rights. Her commitment to charity has become one of the defining aspects of her life, and while she’s made a tremendous impact, she’s expressed some regret about not discovering her passion for helping others sooner.

Jolie’s personal growth, coupled with her humanitarian efforts, has influenced her approach to parenting. With three adopted children from orphanages in different countries, she has provided her children with a culturally rich upbringing that teaches them the value of diversity and empathy. “I think my children have learned the most about these issues simply from each other, from experiencing each other,” she said in a BBC Radio 4 interview. “They are from different backgrounds, they don’t deny the difference; they celebrate the difference.”

Jolie hopes her children will not only be aware of global issues but will also internalize these lessons as they grow. She wants them to develop a sense of empathy and inclusivity, hoping that they’ll engage with people from all walks of life, seeing the world through a lens of understanding and friendship. “I hope if I raise them with a more accurate view of the world than I was raised with, then they will naturally be better people,” she said. “And I’m sure my children will be visiting and learning from refugees in the future.”

In sharing her personal struggles and insights, Jolie underscores the importance of using one’s platform for positive change. She may not have had the benefit of charity work during her own tumultuous youth, but she is determined to ensure her children grow up with a deep awareness of the world’s complexities and the value of helping others.