The Hollywood actress was surrounded by her children in Cambodia as she returned to the spotlight on Saturday
Angelina Jolie ’s latest project is a subject very close to her heart, so it made sense that all six of her children joined her for the world premiere.
The Hollywood star was joined by Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, ten and eight-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox for a screening of First They Killed My Father in Cambodia.
It marks the actress’ first red carpet appearance since her split from Brad Pitt last year, and the first time she’s made a public appearance with all of her children without him.
While Zahara wore a loose dress and Vivienne opted for a jumpsuit, Maddox, Pax and Knox all wore smart suits, as did tomboy Shiloh.
Angelina Jolie returns to spotlight after Brad Pitt split to promote Netflix movie in Cambodia
In a 2010 interview with Vanity Fair, Angelina said: ‘Shiloh, we feel has Montenegro style. It’s how people dress there. She likes tracksuits, she likes [regular] suits. So it’s a suit with a tie and a jacket and slacks, or a tracksuit. She likes to dress like a boy. She wants to be a boy. So we had to cut her hair. She likes to wear boys’ everything. She thinks she’s one of the brothers.’
Angelina flew to Cambodia with her children for the premiere of her new Netflix movie, based on the memoirs of Loung Ung, whose family were victims to the Khmer Rouge regime.
Ahead of the red carpet, Angelina, 41, attended a photocell and press conference, where she spoke about filming the movie in Cambodia and how she wanted to understand what eldest son Maddox’s family had been through.
She adopted Maddox from a Cambodian orphanage in 2002.
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“It helped to open my eyes to what was going on the world. I wanted to tell the story to through the eyes of the child’s point of view, the love of a family, to show the beauty of the country and understand what Maddox’s parents may have gone through,” she told reporters, according to People.
It was Maddox who was instrumental in getting the memoirs to screen, as Angelina recalled in a recent interview with The Guardian.
“He was the one who just called it and said he was ready and that he wanted to work on it, which he did. He read the script, helped with notes, and was in the production meetings,’ said Angelina.
Angelina adopted Maddox in 2002
Hollywood star Angelina Jolie (R) interacts with Cambodian child actress Sareum Srey Moch during a press conference
With Cambodian child actress Sareum Srey Moch during the press conference ( Image: Getty)
She approached Netflix herself to release the project, explaining that it allowed her to retain her creative vision and control.
Her son Pax, meanwhile, was a frequent visitor to the Cambodian set, taking numerous pictures of his famous mother in action as she directed the film.
Angelina co-wrote the screenplay with Loung Ung, a good friend.
She cast an entirely Cambodian cast and the dialogue is all spoken in the country’s native tongue.
“The heart of it is Loung’s story, it’s the story of a war through the eyes of a child, but it is also the story of a country,’ said Angelina.
It is released on Netflix later this year.
Angelina and Brad with their son Maddox ( Image: Getty)
Angelina and Brad with a young Maddox and Zahara in 2006 ( Image: Getty Images)
Angelina Jolie
Angelina has kept away from the spotlight since her marriage to Brad broke down last year. The Hollywood couple announced in September they were splitting after a twelve-year relationship and two years of marriage.
It came as a shock to many who had considered them rock solid.
The estranged couple have chosen to seal court documents regarding the end of their marriage and a private judge will preside over their divorce.
In their first joint statement since the split, the couple said: ‘The parties and their counsel have signed agreements to preserve the privacy rights of their children and family by keeping all court documents confidential and engaging a private judge to make any necessary legal decisions and to facilitate the expeditious resolution of any remaining issues.
‘The parents are committed to act as a united front to effectuate recovery and reunification.’
