Actor Angelina Jolie has offered a rare update on her family life, speaking candidly about the bond she shares with her six children after her split from Brad Pitt. According to Hello!, Jolie said her children have played a major role in helping her regain confidence as they grow older and push her toward new opportunities. The family story has drawn fresh attention after each of the former couple’s children took steps to stop using Pitt as a last name in public or legal settings.
Angelina Jolie Says Her Children Encourage Her
Jolie said her children have helped her reconnect with parts of herself that had faded during difficult years. "I think my fighting spirit is finally back," she explained according to Hello!. She added that her children, now mostly adults, want to see her travel and take on more of life beyond Los Angeles. "They know me more than anybody, and they still like me, which says a lot." The actor’s comments point to a close family dynamic shaped by time, change, and the children’s growing independence.
Six Children Mark Distance From Brad Pitt
The former couple share Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne. In recent years, all six have made public choices that signaled distance from their father’s surname. Shiloh was the first to legally remove Pitt from her name. Maddox and Zahara later filed to do the same. Vivienne used only "Jolie" in a 2024 playbill for The Outsiders, while Knox was introduced as "Knox Jolie" during his high school graduation ceremony in June 2026. Together, those decisions have underscored a major shift within the family.
Divorce Battle Shaped Angelina Jolie’s Career Choices
Jolie also said the aftermath of the divorce affected where she lived and how she worked. She explained that she nearly stepped away from acting and had planned to focus more on directing and international projects. Instead, she chose acting jobs that kept her close to home and allowed her to spend more time with her children. Brad Pitt and Jolie began dating in 2005, married in 2014, and separated in 2016. Their divorce proceedings lasted eight years and included a lengthy custody fight.
Brad Pitt Spoke Earlier About Being More Present
As reported by Hello!, Pitt has said little publicly in recent years about his relationship with the children. One of his clearest comments came in 2017, when he reflected on the impact of the divorce on his role as a father. "It's hit me smack in the face with our divorce: I gotta be more. I gotta be more for them. I have to show them. And I haven't been great at it," Brad Pitt told GQ. Jolie, meanwhile, has said she expects to spend more time abroad once her youngest children reach adulthood.
