Angelina Jolie Reveals the One Role She’ll Always Cherish — And It’s Not Lara Croft

Angelina Jolie is undeniably one of Hollywood’s most iconic actresses, celebrated for a diverse range of roles, from the daring Lara Croft in Tomb Raider to her Oscar-winning performance in Girl, Interrupted. Yet, despite the global fame of her blockbuster adventures, Jolie has revealed that the role closest to her heart is one that reflects a deeper, more personal connection.

In a candid reflection, Jolie named her favorite film role as Marianne Pearl in the 2007 drama A Mighty Heart, directed by Michael Winterbottom. The film, based on the true story of the kidnapping and murder of journalist Daniel Pearl by terrorist supporters, portrays the harrowing ordeal through the eyes of Pearl’s wife, played by Jolie.

“I loved Marianne,” Jolie shared. “Brad [Pitt] produced it, and I think it was a well-done film about something that matters.” The role, steeped in real-world tragedy and resilience, stands apart from her more fantastical or action-packed characters, highlighting Jolie’s commitment to stories with profound human significance.

This inclination toward meaningful narratives extends beyond Jolie’s acting career. Her humanitarian work has taken center stage in recent years, inspired in part by experiences during her filming of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in Cambodia. Witnessing firsthand the struggles faced by displaced people and vulnerable children ignited her passion for advocacy.

Last year, Jolie co-wrote Know Your Rights: and Claim Them, a book aimed at educating young people under 18 about their fundamental human rights. Speaking about her motivation, she said, “I’ve met too many children who live with the effect of their rights being violated — displaced people, young rape victims. I couldn’t understand why they were still fighting for basic things that were their rights to begin with. It made me very angry.”

She added poignantly, “You meet little kids, see the promises made, the efforts made, the trust given, see everything, then you track them being put on trucks to be sent back, and you track them back in Kabul, and at school, and you get a sense of the pain and fear and death and the horror and the betrayal and the trauma.”

While Jolie has maintained a selective presence in film—recently appearing in Those Who Wish Me Dead and the Marvel film Eternals—it’s clear that her legacy is intertwined with both her artistic achievements and her tireless humanitarian efforts.

For Jolie, the role of Marianne Pearl remains a defining moment, representing not just a powerful performance, but a commitment to telling stories that truly matter—stories that echo her real-world dedication to justice, dignity, and human rights.