'Anyone can put on makeup': Angelina Jolie's advice to her daughters

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This was published 6 years ago

'Anyone can put on makeup': Angelina Jolie's advice to her daughters

By Natalie Reilly
Updated

Angelina Jolie coves US Elle magazine for their March issue, and because she's Angelina Jolie, she didn't need a reason.

The part-time actress, director, UN Ambassador and single mum of six kids, spoke with former US Secretary of State, John Kerry about the usual topics: systemic violence, politics, rape as a weapon of war, and how to make lasting change as an American.

Angelina Jolie covers Elle Magazine for their March 2018 issue.

Angelina Jolie covers Elle Magazine for their March 2018 issue.

The interview took place in New York City in December last year in accordance with Jolie's wishes to promote International Women's Day on March 8.

Jolie, who turns 43 in June, spoke at length about her reticence to get into politics, but conceded that it was necessary, given that it's at the "root" of so many conflicts, telling Kerry

"I was quite anti-politics when I was young. I started working on human-rights issues and meeting refugees and survivors mostly because I wanted to learn. .

But at a certain point, you realise that's not enough. You have to find the root of the problem. And that, so often, brings you back to the law and politics. For instance, I kept meeting refugees who were survivors of systematic rape—rape used as a weapon. Yet there were virtually no convictions. It fired me up to start working with governments and lawmakers."

Jolie, is also, as ever, keenly aware of her rich, white privilege as an American, telling Kerry she could not have given her children the life they have without it.

"It's only because we are a country based on people of different backgrounds and faiths coming together that I can have this family. My daughters have the freedoms they have because of being American."

Jolie also managed to slip in the advice she gives to her daughters, Zahara, 13, Shilo, 11 and Vivienne, 9, she co-parents with her estranged husband, Brad Pitt, 54.

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I tell my daughters, "What sets you apart is what you are willing to do for others. Anyone can put on a dress and makeup. It's your mind that will define you. Find out who you are, what you think, and what you stand for. And fight for others to have those same freedoms. A life of service is worth living".

Jolie posed for photographs with two of her daughters, Shilo and Vivienne, who came to visit while the interview was taking place. Jolie told Kerry they were going out later to do Christmas shopping.

Jolie currently shares custody of all of her children, including, Maddox, 16, Pax, 14 and Vivienne's twin brother, Knox, 9 with Pitt after she filed for divorce in 2016. They remain separated but the divorce itself is pending.

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