Angelina Jolie: ‘I love my scars’ – star on mastectomy and health choice

Angelina Jolie has spoken publicly about her affection for the scars resulting from a preventative double mastectomy she underwent in 2013, revealing a perspective shaped by her mother’s battle with cancer. Jolie, 50, shared her feelings in a recent interview with France Inter, according to reports, thirteen years after making the difficult decision to have the procedure due to a high risk of developing breast cancer.

Jolie’s mother, actress Marcheline Bertrand, died from ovarian and breast cancer in January 2007, at the age of 56. Jolie learned she carried the BRCA1 gene, significantly increasing her risk, prompting her to undergo a double mastectomy and later reconstructive surgery. She detailed her decision in a 2013 op-ed for The New York Times, stating she felt “empowered” by taking proactive control of her health.

“I’ve always been someone more interested in the scars and the life that people carry,” Jolie told France Inter. “I’m not drawn to some perfect idea of a life that has no scars.” She described her scars as a symbol of her commitment to her children, sharing six children with her former husband, Brad Pitt: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne.

“My scars are a choice I made to do what I could do to stay here as long as I could with my children. I love my scars given that of that, and I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to have the choice to do something proactive about my health,” Jolie said. She previously explained that she had openly discussed her scars with her children, ensuring they understood they were a part of her and a testament to her dedication to their well-being.

Jolie first publicly displayed her scars in December on the cover of Time France, advocating for wider access to BRCA gene screenings for all women. Her upcoming film, Couture, set during Paris Fashion Week, features a character diagnosed with breast cancer, offering another platform for Jolie to explore themes related to the disease and its impact. The film reportedly sees Jolie playing a filmmaker who speaks both French, and English.

Marcheline Bertrand began her acting career in the early 1980s, appearing in films like Lookin’ to Get Out (1982) and The Man Who Loved Women (1983). She later transitioned into producing, founding Woods Road Productions in 1983. Bertrand’s death prompted Jolie to undergo genetic testing, ultimately leading to her preventative surgery.