Angelina Jolie Wants To Leave LA, Move To Asia: Here's Why
Angelina Jolie is tired of living in Los Angeles.
In an exclusive interview with The Wall Street Journal published Tuesday, the Oscar-winning actress and mother of six opened up about her weariness with the intense public scrutiny she's faced, especially surrounding her divorce from Brad Pitt seven years ago.
Jolie expressed her desire to eventually leave Los Angeles and spend more time at her home in Cambodia, citing the loss of her ability to travel freely and her lack of "social life" in Hollywood.
"It's part of what happened after my divorce. I lost the ability to live and travel as freely," Jolie stated. "I will move when I can."
The 46-year-old actress shared that she may not have pursued an acting career if she were just starting today.
"I wouldn't be an actress today," she told the publication. "When I was starting out, it wasn't as much of an expectation to be as public, to share so much."
Despite avoiding media coverage about herself, Jolie said she's aware that she's "just been around so long, and there's been everything said."
Growing up with actor parents, Jolie never viewed Hollywood as a "significant or important" place.
"Of all the places in the world, Hollywood is not a healthy place. So you seek authenticity," she commented.
Jolie's fame surged after winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 1999 for her role in "Girl, Interrupted." However, the fame brought its challenges, leading to depression and, at times, suicidal thoughts.
"I wanted to escape," Jolie revealed.
The toll of stress on Jolie's health became apparent during the filming of "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" in 2018, where she noticed changes in her voice. She also experienced Bell's palsy six months before her divorce.
In recent years, Jolie intentionally reduced her film roles, opting for projects with shorter shoots.
In an interview with Vogue earlier this year, she described herself as being in a transitional phase, feeling a bit down and not feeling like herself for a decade.
While avoiding specifics, Jolie credited motherhood, having adopted her first son Maddox from Cambodia at 26, for positively transforming her life. She shares five other children with Pitt.
Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt and Maddox Jolie-Pitt attend the "Eternals" UK Premiere at the BFI IMAX Waterloo on October 27, 2021 in London, England.
"My entire life changed. Having children saved me -- and taught me to be in this world differently," Jolie reflected.
Jolie will next appear in "Kung Fu Panda 4" and the biopic "Maria," where she stars as opera singer Maria Callas.
