By Gabby
"You could die tomorrow and you've done a few movies, won some awards-that doesn't mean anything, but if you've built schools or raised a child or done something to make things better for other people, then it just feels better. Life is better." This is a quote by Angelina Jolie, a popular actress known for her successful movie career or her relationship with Brad Pitt. However, Jolie is more than just a well-known actress; she has also made a difference in many people's lives. This is something not many actors or actresses do in their lifetime.
Angelina Jolie was born in Los Angeles, California on June 4, 1975. Her parents are model and actress Marcheline Bertrand and actor Jon Voight. She has one brother, actor James Haven. Jolie's mother was not as famous as her father, but inspired Jolie to become an actress by taking her to movies often. She studied at Beverly Hills High School and later went to New York University. She began acting at a young age, attending Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in her early teens.
Jolie made her debut as a very talented actress in the TV film Gia, about the short life of model Gia Marie Carangi. Her work in this film won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. In the late 1900's, she got a role the drama Girl, Interrupted. She won her first Academy Award with this film. Jolie became well known and continued getting roles in movies. She played an adventurer in the Lara Croft films, A FBI profiler in Taking Lives, an assassin in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, a cop/detective in The Bone Collector, a wife of a Wall Street Journal writer in A Mighty Heart, and a troubled mother in The Good Shepherd. Recently, she played a mother in Changeling. She received an Oscar nomination for her work in this film.
In 2005, Jolie received the Global Humanitarian Action Award from the United Nations Association of the USA for her activism on behalf of refugee rights. She is a devoted humanitarian who has adopted 3 kids from foreign countries. Maddox, her first adopted child, was from Cambodia. She later adopted Zahara, a girl from Ethiopia and Pax, a boy from Vietnam. Jolie also has three biological children, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne.
Jolie is dating Brad Pitt. He signed paperwork to adopt all of Jolie's children. Brad Pitt is not Jolie's first relationship. Jolie has been married twice. Jolie married Johnny Lee Miller in 1995, and then Billy Bob Thornton in 2000. Both marriages ended with a divorce. These past failed marriages may have helped Jolie's decision to not get married to Pitt so soon..
Jolie suffered a great loss in the beginning of 2007. Her mother died after a long battle with cancer. Jolie was affected emotionally by this loss very much, but did not let it affect her career or her personal life.
Jolie is a great example of accomplishments with her characteristics of perseverance, intelligence, and kindness to others. She has accomplished more than some people do in their lifetime. She travels the world and brings attention to global issues. This makes her an excellent idol and hero to kids around the world.
References
“Hero for the Homeless.” Kids InfoBits. Star Power. 23 March 2009 <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/KidsInfoBits?subTopic=Actors%2B%2526%2BComedians&locID=plan51433&failover=0&srchtp=topic&topic=People&c=1&searchTerm=Jolie%252C%2BAngelina&ste=8&tbst=tsrch&tab=2&docNum=A113600670&bConts=6>
“Angelina Jolie Biography.” Biography.com. 7 April 2009 <http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9356782>
