On September 19, 2016, Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt, starting what would become at times a very public and contentious split. She reflected on that tumultuous period to People in its new cover story out today, admitting that, "I have had my ups and downs. I guess I am a little bit stronger [for it]."
Through it all, the actress says she put her and Pitt's six children (Maddox, 16; Pax, 13; Zahara, 12; Shiloh, 11; Knox and Vivienne, 9) first. "We all have our difficult times, but as a mother you also have a responsibility first and foremost towards the kids," she explained. "They are going through their formative years and everything else comes second to that."
"Everything will be around the children," she continued. "I haven't worked for over a year now because they needed me home. Everything was just stopped. I'm really sitting and talking with them because everything affects them. Every location, every type of project, I'm going to have to adjust it to however much they can handle."
The Jolie-Pitt kids, who were photographed with Jolie at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend, have recently been more comfortable in the public. "I think they're itching to get out in the world again," Jolie said. "We've all been a bit in lockdown and going through some things. I think it would be good to get out there and play together."
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she's not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.
