Angelina Jolie
Born 1975 · Age 51
American actress, filmmaker and humanitarian; Academy Award, Tony Award and multiple Golden Globes; known for major film roles, directing and extensive UNHCR work.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born Angelina Jolie Voight
Born at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles to actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand.
Family moved to Palisades, New York
At age six, her mother and partner moved the family to Palisades, NY; the family returned to Los Angeles five years later.
Screen debut in Lookin' to Get Out
Small bit part alongside her father Jon Voight — her first on-screen appearance.
Appeared in music videos
Performed in music videos including Lenny Kravitz's 'Stand by My Woman' and Antonello Venditti's 'Alta Marea'.
Enrolled at Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute
Studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute for two years and appeared in several stage productions.
Starred in Cyborg 2 (direct-to-video)
Leading role in the low-budget sci-fi sequel Cyborg 2; early professional film credit.
Appeared on album cover (Everyday)
Featured on the cover of the Widespread Panic album Everyday.
Breakthrough role in Hackers
First major studio film; role considered her breakthrough despite the film's initial box-office failure.
Married Jonny Lee Miller
Married Hackers co-star Jonny Lee Miller in a civil ceremony (marriage later ended in divorce).
Golden Globe for George Wallace
Won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Cornelia Wallace in the TV film George Wallace; Emmy nomination.
Breakout TV role: Gia — awards
Portrayed Gia Carangi in HBO film Gia; won Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award; Emmy nomination.
Starred in Girl, Interrupted (film release)
Played Lisa Rowe; critically acclaimed performance that led to award recognition.
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Girl, Interrupted)
Won the Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Supporting Actress for Girl, Interrupted (film of 1999).
Appeared in Gone in 60 Seconds (box office milestone)
Film became Jolie's highest-grossing film at the time with $237.2M worldwide.
Married Billy Bob Thornton (secret Vegas wedding)
Married actor Billy Bob Thornton; the marriage lasted until 2003.
Donated $1,000,000 to UNHCR emergency appeal
Donated to aid Afghan refugees after visiting refugees in Pakistan; at the time the largest private donation to UNHCR.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider released (international breakout)
Portrayal of Lara Croft made her an international superstar; film grossed $274.7M worldwide.
First UNHCR field mission (Sierra Leone & Tanzania)
Undertook an 18-day mission to learn refugee conditions — start of long-term humanitarian engagement.
Named UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
Officially appointed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva.
Adopted son Maddox from Cambodia
Adopted her first child (Maddox) — significant personal milestone that she credits with stabilizing her life.
Legal name change to Angelina Jolie
Petitioned and had court grant removal of the surname 'Voight' in favor of 'Jolie'.
Purchased property and began Maddox Jolie Project
Bought a traditional home in Cambodia on 39 hectares and acquired land adjacent to Cardamom Mountains for conservation and community projects.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life released
Reprised role; sequel grossed $156.5M internationally.
Published Notes from My Travels
Book chronicling 2001–02 UNHCR field visits, published in conjunction with Beyond Borders.
Obtained pilot license
Started flying lessons and acquired a pilot license to assist humanitarian travel and logistics.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith released (major box-office hit)
Starred opposite Brad Pitt; film grossed $478.2M worldwide and greatly raised her commercial profile.
Began relationship with Brad Pitt; Pitt filed to adopt children
Relationship with co-star Brad Pitt began during Mr. & Mrs. Smith production; Pitt later moved to adopt Jolie's children.
Founded Jolie-Pitt Foundation and expanded Maddox Jolie-Pitt initiatives
Jolie and Pitt established the Jolie-Pitt Foundation (September 2006) and expanded MJP into a Millennium Village project to support conservation and community development.
Birth of daughter Shiloh (first biological child)
Shiloh Nouvel was born in Namibia in 2006; major personal and family milestone.
Directed A Place in Time (documentary)
Directed and released a documentary distributed through the National Education Association; continued expansion into directing.
Adopted son Pax Thien from Vietnam
Adopted a three-year-old boy (Pax) in 2007; family expanded.
A Mighty Heart and Beowulf releases (critical recognition)
Praised dramatic work in A Mighty Heart and motion-capture role in Beowulf as the industry profile broadened.
Wanted released (international success)
Action film Wanted grossed $341.4M worldwide; Jolie cited as highest-paid actress earning $15–$20M per film that year.
Birth of twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline
Fraternal twins were born in July 2008 in southern France.
Salt released (action-star milestone)
Starred as CIA agent Evelyn Salt; the film grossed $293.5M worldwide and reinforced her A-list action star status.
Feature directorial debut: In the Land of Blood and Honey
Wrote and directed this Bosnian-war drama — major step into feature filmmaking and humanitarian storytelling.
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (Honorary Oscar)
Received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in recognition of extensive humanitarian work.
Announced preventive double mastectomy (NYT op-ed)
Publicly disclosed BRCA1 gene mutation and decision to undergo preventive double mastectomy to reduce cancer risk.
Maleficent released — career highest grossing film
Starred as Maleficent; film grossed $757.8M worldwide, becoming her highest-grossing film.
Married Brad Pitt
Married long-term partner Brad Pitt in a private ceremony in France.
Ovaries and fallopian tubes removed (risk-reduction surgery)
Underwent surgery to further reduce cancer risk; wrote about the decision publicly to inform other women.
Filed for divorce from Brad Pitt
Filed for divorce and requested sole physical custody of six children, beginning a protracted legal separation.
Directed First They Killed My Father (Netflix)
Directed and co-wrote the Cambodia-set film adapted from Loung Ung's memoir; produced for Netflix with an all-Khmer cast.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil released
Reprised Maleficent role; sequel grossed approximately $490M worldwide.
Appeared as Thena in Marvel's Eternals
Joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe ensemble — broadened franchise presence despite mixed reviews.
Resigned as UNHCR Special Envoy
Stepped down from position as Special Envoy to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees after a decade in the role (promoted in 2012).
Legal proceedings and custody developments (ongoing)
Continued to be involved in legal matters related to divorce and custody with Brad Pitt; public filings continued to emerge.
Produced The Outsiders (Broadway transfer) — Tony Award win
Produced the musical The Outsiders; production won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2024.
Directed and released Without Blood
Wrote, produced and directed the 2024 war drama Without Blood, based on Alessandro Baricco's novel.
Starred as Maria Callas in Maria (Venice premiere)
Portrayed opera singer Maria Callas; film premiered at the 81st Venice Film Festival and received strong critical praise.
Maria streaming on Netflix (wider release)
After limited theatrical run beginning November, Maria began streaming on Netflix (December 11, 2024).
Key Achievement Ages
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