Happy Birthday Angelina Jolie: Best Movies, Facts and Fascinating Career of the Hollywood Actress!

Angelina Jolie has been a Hollywood superstar for decades. Often dubbed one of the most beautiful women on the planet and the highest-paid actress in Hollywood, she has impressed audiences with her talent, charisma and humanitarian works globally. Angelina Jolie made her silver screen debut as a child alongside her father, Jon Voight, in Looking To Get Out, 1982.

Her career in the industry began with Cyborg 2 in 1993, followed by her first leading role in Hackers in 1995. The actress quickly rose to fame with her diverse roles, from the adventurous Lara Croft in Tomb Raider to the wicked Maleficent.

Angelina Jolie’s acting skills have earned her numerous awards and nominations, making her one of the most respected and influential actresses in the industry. Her notable accolades include an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards. However, her contributions go beyond the silver screen. She is also known for her extensive humanitarian efforts and advocating for refugees worldwide.

In addition to her professional achievements, Angelina Jolie is also known for her six children with ex-husband Brad Pitt, who often find themselves in the spotlight. Her personal life, including her marriages and health choices, has been a frequent topic of media attention in recent years.

On the occasion of her 49th birthday, let’s take a look at some of her top performances and five interesting facts that you might not be aware of:

Top Performances

1. Gia (1998)This film is a biopic directed by Michael Cristofer and is based on the life of Gia Carangi, one of the first supermodels. Jolie played the titular character in the film. Apart from her, it also starred Faye Dunaway as popular model Wilhelmina Cooper. Actors Mercedes Ruehl and Elizabeth Mitchell also played major roles in the film.
2. Girl, Interrupted (1999)Just a year after Gia, Angelina Jolie was seen in James Mangold’s directorial Girl, Interrupted. It is based on the real-life story of Susanna Kaysen, an American author who was admitted to a mental facility. While the film received mixed reactions from critics, it brought widespread critical acclaim for the performances by Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder.
3. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)The 2005 action romance-drama stars Jolie and her former husband-actor Brad Pitt. Directed by Doug Liman, the former couple played lethal assassins in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. The chemistry between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt is still considered one of the best on-screen performances.
4. Wanted (2008)This Timur Bekmambetov directorial also starred Chris Pratt, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman, along with Angelina Jolie in the lead role. The action thriller received good reviews from the audience and the critics alike. It also won a Best Female Performance award for Jolie at the MTV Movie Awards.
5. Maleficent 2 (2019)While the film didn’t do as well at the box office upon its release, Jolie certainly did garner praise for her performance in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, or Maleficent 2. Her character is also considered one of the best female Hollywood antiheroes. It was helmed by director Joachim Ronning.

Interesting Facts

1. Angelina Jolie has served as a Goodwill Ambassador and later as a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
2. Angelina Jolie is also proud to be a Spelman mom. Her oldest daughter, Zahara, is currently studying at Spelman College, in Atlanta, Georgia. Jolie had shared her excitement and pride on social media during her first visit to the campus, reports Vogue.
3. In 2013, Jolie wrote an op-ed in the New York Times revealing that she had undergone a preventive double mastectomy. This decision was reportedly due to her genetic predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer.
4. Jolie is fond of tattoos and reportedly has 16 on her body. Some of her tattoos also include the coordinates of her children’s birthplaces.
5. The actress is not afraid to embrace new and unusual experiences, especially when it comes to food. In 2017, she was filmed preparing and eating Cambodian delicacies such as crickets, scorpions and tarantulas with her children.