Angelina Jolie: What My Late Mother Taught Me About Parenting
In a new interview, the actress reveals the most important lessons on parenting she learned from her late mother.
Angelina Jolie draws on memories of her late mother, French-Canadian-American actress Marcheline Bertrand, to improve her parenting style, she revealed in a new interview.
The actress and humanitarian shares that she wishes Bertrand were still around to help Jolie through motherhood and be a doting grandmother to Jolie’s six children with estranged husband Brad Pitt: 15-year-old Maddox, 13-year-old Pax, 12-year-old Zahara, 10-year-old Shiloh, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 8. “She would have thrived as a grandmother,” Jolie, 41, said.
“I know how much she would have contributed to their lives and I am sad they will miss out on that,” Jolie told Elle France. “I would give anything for her to be with me at this time. I’ve needed her. I talk to her often in my mind and try to think what she might say and how she might guide me.”
Domestic Bliss: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt at Home
On her: Vintage dress from the Attic, Las Vegas; Mikimoto earrings. On him: Jil Sander cotton suit and leather belt; Alexander McQueen cotton shirt. Timex watch; Polo Ralph Lauren socks; Kenneth Cole shoes.
On her: Yves Saint Laurent embroidered astrakhan and wool cape. David Yurman ring; Harry Winston wedding band. On him: Original Penguin cotton poplin shorts. Vintage shirt from the Attic, Las Vegas; Cartier wedding band; Persol sunglasses.
On her: Narciso Rodriguez wool and silk crepe dress. Ciner earrings; Lee Angel brooch. On him: Thom Browne wool pants and silk tie; Trussardi cotton shirt.
On her: Luisa Beccaria silk satin dress. Harry Winston earrings; D&G shoes. On him: Thom Browne wool suit.
On her: Luisa Beccaria silk satin dress. Harry Winston earrings; D&G shoes. On him: Thom Browne wool suit.
On her: Alberta Ferretti silk chiffon dress. La Perla silk bra. On him: Thom Browne wool pants. Dsquared belt.
Eres black lace-trimmed silk jersey slip.
On her: Alexander McQueen mohair sweater and silk dress. Cynthia Wolff earrings. On him: Alexander McQueen cotton shirt.
On her: Vintage white dress from The Attic, Las Vegas; LaCrasia gloves; Christian Roth sunglasses; Van Cleef & Arpels watch from Kenshire Galleries; Miriam Haskell earrings; Christian Louboutin shoes. On him: Original Penguin’s mulicolored cotton jersey sweater, at Original Penguin, New York, www.originalpenguin.com; Thom Browne’s gray wool trousers, at Bergdorf Goodman and Feffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles. Makins hat; Omega watch from Aaron Faber Gallery.
On her: Vintage gown from The Attic, Las Vegas; Harry Winston wedding band.On him: Vintage shirt from House of Style, Las Vegas; Makins hat; Polo Ralph Lauren socks; Versace shoes.
John Currin’s Healthcare Worker, 2003, ink and gouache on prepared paper, from the collection of Rosette Delug, courtesy of Gagosian Gallery, Los Angeles.
Beauty Note: Simmer down with Estee Lauder After-Sun Rehydrator for the Body, a cooling treatment that not only soothes skin but also prolongs a tan.
On her: Vintage white dress from The Attic, Las Vegas; LaCrasia gloves; Christian Roth sunglasses; Van Cleef & Arpels watch from Kenshire Galleries; Miriam Haskell earrings; Christian Louboutin shoes. On him: Original Penguin’s mulicolored cotton jersey sweater, at Original Penguin, New York, www.originalpenguin.com; Thom Browne’s gray wool trousers, at Bergdorf Goodman and Jeffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles. Makins hat; Omega watch from Aaron Faber Gallery.
On her: Alberta Ferretti’s silk chiffon dress, at Maxfield, Los Angeles; Mix, Houston. On him: Thom Browne’s wool pants, at Bergdorf Goodman and Jeffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles, DSquared belt.
Beauty Note: A swipe of winged eyeliner manages to look seductive every time. Dior Style Liner packs a sexy, retro punch.
White vintage Gottex swimsuit from The Attic, Las Vegas.
On her: Cartier earrings. On him: Vintage hat.
Beauty Note: Capture a great hair moment with L’Oreal Studio Line Fast-Forward Hairspray, which freezes styles in place without any stickiness.
On her: Cartier earrings. On him: Vintage hat.
Beauty Note: Capture a great hair moment with L’Oreal Studio Line Fast-Forward Hairspray, which freezes styles in place without any stickiness.
Trussardi’s gray plaid wool pants, www.trussardi.com. Makins hat.
On her: Miu Miu’s cotton slip, at select Miu Miu stores, 888.977.1900. On him: Burberry London’s wook pants, at select Bloomingdale’s stores; Burberry, New York and Los Angeles, 800.284.8480. Vintage shirt from House of Style, Las Vegas; Omega watch from Aaron Faber Gallery.
On her: Vintage dress from The Attic, Las Vegas; Mikimoto earrings. On him: Jil Sander’s cotton suit and leather belt, at Jil Sander, New York, 800.704.7317; Alexander McQueen’s cotton shirt, at Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman and Alexander McQueen, New York. Timex watch; Polo Ralph Lauren socks; Kenneth Cole shoes.
On her: Vintage dress from The Attic, Las Vegas; Mikimoto earrings. On him: Jil Sander’s cotton suit and leather belt, at Jil Sander, New York, 800.704.7317; Alexander McQueen’s cotton shirt, at Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman and Alexander McQueen, New York. Timex watch; Polo Ralph Lauren socks; Kenneth Cole shoes.
On her: Alberta Ferretti’s silk chiffon dress, at Maxfield, Los Angeles; Mix, Houston. On him: Thom Browne’s wool pants, at Bergdorf Goodman and Jeffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles, DSquared belt.
On her: Giambattista Valli ostrich feather and silk velvet and tulle dress. Christian Louboutin shoes. J. Medel’s mink coat. Harry Winston earrings. On him: Alexander McQueen wool suit; Dior Homme cotton shirt. Dior Homme shoes. DSquared tie.
On her: Giambattista Valli ostrich feather and silk velvet and tulle dress. Christian Louboutin shoes. J. Medel’s mink coat. Harry Winston earrings. On him: Alexander McQueen wool suit; Dior Homme cotton shirt. Dior Homme shoes. DSquared tie.
On her: Michael Kors’s cream silk charmeuse blouse, at Saks Fifth Avenue; Bergdorf Goodman and Michael Kors, New York; Ralph Lauren’s black wool skirt, at Bergdorf Goodman, New York; select Ralph Lauren stores, runway.polo.com. Christian Louboutin shoes. On him: Alexander McQueen’s white cotton shirt, at Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman and Alexander McQueen, New York; Thom Browne’s gray wool pants, at Bergdorf Goodman and Jeffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles.
On her: Michael Kors’s cream silk charmeuse blouse, at Saks Fifth Avenue; Bergdorf Goodman and Michael Kors, New York; Ralph Lauren’s black wool skirt, at Bergdorf Goodman, New York; select Ralph Lauren stores, runway.polo.com. Christian Louboutin shoes. On him: Alexander McQueen’s white cotton shirt, at Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman and Alexander McQueen, New York; Thom Browne’s gray wool pants, at Bergdorf Goodman and Jeffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles.
On her: Michael Kors’s cream silk charmeuse blouse, at Saks Fifth Avenue; Bergdorf Goodman and Michael Kors, New York; Ralph Lauren’s black wool skirt, at Bergdorf Goodman, New York; select Ralph Lauren stores, runway.polo.com. Christian Louboutin shoes. On him: Alexander McQueen’s white cotton shirt, at Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman and Alexander McQueen, New York; Thom Browne’s gray wool pants, at Bergdorf Goodman and Jeffrey, New York; Ron Herman, Los Angeles.
On her: Narciso Rodriguez wool and silk crepe dress. Ciner earrings; Lee Angel brooch. On him: Thom Browne wool pants and silk tie; Trussardi cotton shirt.
Alberta Ferretti’s silk chiffon dress, at Maxfield, Los Angeles; Mix, Houston.
Vilebrequin’s multicolored polyamide canvas swimming trunks, at Vilebrequin, New York, www.vilebrequin.com.
Eres’s black lace-trimmed silk jersey slip, at Eres, New York, Palm Beach and Los Angeles, 800.340.6004, www.eresparis.com.
The influence of Bertrand, who died of ovarian cancer at 56 in 2007 and had raised Jolie and her brother James Haven by herself after divorcing actor Jon Voight, is abundantly clear in the actress’ own mothering methods. “[Being a parent] is the greatest gift and responsibility,” Jolie said. “It means doing everything that you can to live by your values and try to be an example to your children.” She added, “I try to lead by example, being conscious of others and being responsible. And to help them have a broader view of the world.”
But even more important than teaching her children to be charitable and thoughtful, Jolie said, is simply listening to them. “Really the only way I know to raise them is to really listen. It’s perhaps the most important thing any parent can do. They are resilient children but they are children, and as much as they need help to understand the hard truths in life they also need what we all need—protection and love,” she said.
Jolie found another way to honor her late mother earlier this year. In January, French beauty company Guerlain announced that the actress would be the new face of its Mon Guerlain fragrance. Jolie reportedly decided to partner with the brand because Bertrand was a devoted fan of the company’s face powder. Jolie also stayed true to her humanitarian ways with the partnership, opting to donate all earnings from the campaign to her charities.
Related: When Brad Pitt Photographed Angelina Jolie for W Magazine
A Photographic Guide To Everyone Brad Pitt Has Dated
A pre-divorce Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive at the premiere of By The Sea in Hollywood, in November 2015. The couple were together from 2005-2016.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie attend the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence and Conflict in London in June 2014.The couple were together from 2005-2016.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who met on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, arrive for the premiere of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008). The couple were together from 2005-2016.
Where it all began: Brad Pitt and then-girlfriend Robin Givens in Los Angeles. The couple were together from 1986-1987.
Actress Shalene McCall and Brad Pitt enjoyed a brief dalliance after meeting on the set of TV show Windmills of the Gods. The couple dated in 1987.
McCall and Pitt are again spotted in Beverly Hills. The couple dated in 1987.
Brad Pitt and Jill Schoelen, who dated for one year, are spotted by paparazzi. The couple were together from 1988-1989.
On-set co-stars, Brad Pitt and Jill Schoelen enjoyed a brief relationship that drew great media attention. The couple dated in 1987.
Brad Pitt and Jill Schoelen at the 20/20 Club in Los Angeles. The couple dated in 1987.
Brad Pitt & Christina Applegate during 1989 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California. The couple were together from 1988-1989.
Christina Applegate and Brad Pitt spotted again in 1989. The couple were together from 1988-1989.
Brad Pitt and actress Juliette Lewis enjoyed a lengthy long relationship in the public eye. Here they are in 1991. The couple were together from 1989-1993.
Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis at the AMC Theater in Santa Monica, for the premiere of Thelma & Louise (1991). The couple were together from 1989-1993.
Brad and Gwyneth Paltrow attend the Hamlet Broadway Play Opening Night Performance in 1995, in New York City. The couple were together from 1994-1997.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt, 1996. The couple were together from 1994-1997.
Brad Pitt and girlfriend actress Gwyneth Paltrow arrive before the 68th Annual Academy Awards on March 25, 1996 in Los Angeles, California. The couple were together from 1994-1997.
Brad Pitt and actress Gwyneth Paltrow attend The Devil’s Own New York City premiere on March 13, 1997, in New York City. The couple were together from 1994-1997.
Actress Claire Forlani and actor Brad Pitt attend the 50th Annual Writers Guild of America Awards in 1998, in Beverly Hills, California. The couple dated in 1998.
Brad and Jennifer attend the Rock Star premiere in 2001 in Hollywood. The couple were together from 1998-2005.
Actress Jennifer Aniston and actor Brad Pitt attend The Mexican Westwood premiere in 2001. The couple were together from 1998-2005.
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, married for five years, appear here at the 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, in 1999. The couple were together from 1998-2005.
The couple, thought to be an American institution, divorced in 2005. Here the couple make an appearance at the 59th Annual Golden Globe Awards. The couple were together from 1998-2005.
See What’s Trending in W Video:
