Angelina Jolie Says Sons Maddox and Pax Saw Her Express ‘Pain’ on Set of ‘Maria’

The film, which explored the life of opera singer Maria Kalas, revealed weaknesses that Jolie usually hid from her children.

Angelina Jolie also recently reflected on her loneliness amid a legal battle with her ex-husband, Brad Pittabove Château Miraval.

In a recent interview with BBCJolie discussed a deeply personal experience on the set of her latest film, Maria, where her older sons, Maddox, 23, and Pax, 21, worked as production assistants.

Playing the role of opera singer Maria Callas, Jolie shared that the biographical psychological drama brought to the surface emotions that her children rarely witnessed.

“They’ve certainly seen me go through a lot of things, but they haven’t seen me express a lot of pain that parents usually hide from their children,” she shared.

The Maleficent star also revealed how Maddox and Pax comforted her in those moments, often bringing her “cups of tea” or simply giving her a reassuring hug.

Reflecting on the experience, the actress said it allowed her to connect with her family on a deeper level and embrace a new kind of openness in relationships.

“Maria” — which already caused buzz at the Oscars after its trailer — premiered on Netflix on December 11.

Jolie’s latest revelation came when she shared a candid confession about her struggles with loneliness in an interview with The sun in London.

During the conversation, the mum-of-six reflected on her relationship with opera legend Colossus, saying: “I have children that I love, but as an adult I am often alone, I find myself identifying with the loneliness and isolation that she feels.” .

The actress admitted that she is still learning to navigate life on her own, adding: “I also don’t quite understand how to live in a way that I am on my own, maybe a lot of artists feel that we are in an open space as a person.”

It follows Jolie’s landmark legal victory in her long-running battle with ex-husband Pete, when a judge ordered the actor to hand over documents and communications that could support claims of abuse against Jolie and their six children.

The legal spat stems from Pitt’s 2022 lawsuit against Jolie over her decision to sell her stake in their French estate, Chateau Miraval. Since then, the former couple have traded heated accusations in court, keeping the dispute at the forefront of their legal battles.

In August, the 49-year-old spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the valuable experience her sons gained during the production of Maria.

“Mad and Pax were in it. Performed the work of AD (assistant director). They’ve done it quite a few times and I think it’s good for them,” she explained. “Pax tends to shoot shots and get pulled in, and (director) Pablo was great and admitted that he’s good at it.”

Jolie also revealed why she decided to return to acting, explaining that her children’s growing independence has given her more flexibility.

“They are a little older, becoming more independent. I am less needed, and therefore I can leave for different periods of time,” said Jolie. “And they’re old enough to join me at work. This is a new season in our lives. I’m so excited that they’re getting bigger and bigger every day.”

Most recently, Jolie was spotted on the set of her upcoming film, Stitches, in Paris. There, she was photographed filming scenes for the drama “Fashion” in a wig shop, and then in a hospital yard.

According to Daily Mailshe was accompanied by her eldest son Maddox, who joined the production team as a third assistant director.

Maddox isn’t the only Jolie-Pitt sibling on set, as 19-year-old Zahara was also spotted on set, though her specific role remains unclear.

In an interview with CR fashion bookJolie, who has an extensive collection of tattoos, revealed that some of her six children have the same tattoos as her.

When asked about her latest tattoo by interviewer Carine Roitfeld, Jolie explained, “I did ‘Stay Gold’ with my daughter Viv during our time on ‘The Outsiders.’ It means so much to us individually and together.”

The Maleficent actress also shared that some of her children have the same tattoos.

“There is also a Bird that I share with some of my children that is personal to us,” she noted. In June, Jolie showed the bird tattoo for the first time at the Tony Awards in New York.