Angelina Jolie, 50, Talks Her Post-Mastectomy Body

Angelina Jolie has always said she sees more beauty in life’s imperfections than in anything flawless. In a recent chat with France Inter, she opened up about the marks she carries on her body and her life, specifically her preventative double mastectomy.

She explained that she has never wanted a perfect, untouched life. Instead, she sees her scars as symbols of a choice she made to protect her future. Jolie underwent the procedure in 2013 after learning she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, which gave her a very high risk of developing breast cancer. “My scars represent the choice I made to do what I could to stay here as long as I could with my children,” she said.

Losing her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, to ovarian and breast cancer at fifty-six made the decision even more urgent. Jolie said she wanted to be present for her six children—Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne—and protect them from losing a parent too soon. She reflected that the mistakes, struggles, and scars we gather in life give it meaning.

Her openness about the surgery, first shared in a New York Times column, was meant to empower other women to get gene testing and understand their options. Jolie has always believed that sharing personal experiences can help others make informed choices about their health.

@france.inter À l'occasion de la sortie de “Coutures” d'Alice Winocour (au cinéma le 18 février 2026), Angelina Jolie évoque son opération (une double mastectomie), un choix motivé par son amour pour ses enfants. Elle était l'invitée de 7h50 au micro de Benjamin Duhamel dans La Grande Matinale. Pour réécouter, cliquez sur le lien en bio @france.inter #SinformerSurTikTok #ApprendreSurTikTok #AngelinaJolie #cinema #cancer ♬ son original – France Inter

The themes of resilience and facing life’s challenges have also influenced her work as a filmmaker and actress. In her latest film, Coutures, she plays a director who receives a cancer diagnosis.

Jolie told Variety that the project was healing in many ways. “Working on it brought up a lot of personal reflections and gave me comfort through honest conversations with the cast and crew,” she said.

As of February, Jolie attended the Paris premiere of Coutures, which is set for a wide release on February 18. The drama, directed by Alice Winocour, also stars Louis Garrel, Ella Rumpf, and Anyier Anei.

This follows her Golden Globe-nominated performance as opera legend Maria Callas in Maria, showing that Jolie is embracing both deeply personal and powerful storytelling in her current work.

Looking ahead, Jolie is preparing to return to action roles with the thriller Sunny, where she plays a female gangster trying to protect her sons. She’s also set to reunite with Doug Liman for a spy project titled The Initiative, expected in 2027. On a personal note, Jolie is planning to move her primary residence to Europe this July, a long-awaited step she will take once her youngest twins turn eighteen.

Do you think Angelina Jolie’s focus on vulnerable, meaningful roles shows a new chapter in her life and career? Share your thoughts in the comments.