Angelina Jolie has revealed there was a time when she thought her acting career might be over.

In a candid new interview, the Oscar-winning actress opened up about the years following her split from Brad Pitt, admitting she had largely stepped away from acting and wasn’t sure she would return.

“I had kind of quit acting before my divorce,” Jolie said while discussing her latest film, Couture.

The actress explained that before her personal life was thrown into turmoil, she had planned to focus more on directing and humanitarian work rather than appearing on screen.

Why Angelina Jolie Returned to Acting

Jolie and Pitt’s highly publicized separation began in 2016 and wasn’t finalized until late 2024 after years of legal disputes and custody battles involving their six children.

According to Jolie, the realities of balancing work and family life ultimately led her back to acting.

“I was focusing on directing, and I thought I’d be doing my international work,” she explained.

“But then suddenly, the only way to be home more and for short periods of time being away or to make a good amount of money, was to go back to acting.”

Rather than taking on lengthy productions around the world, Jolie said she became selective about projects that allowed her to stay close to home or bring her children with her.

‘My Fighting Spirit Is Finally Back’

Perhaps the most revealing moment came when Jolie admitted she lost confidence and motivation during some of the most difficult years of her life.

“I think my fighting spirit is finally back,” she said.

“I lost it for a bit. I got kind of taken down a little bit.”

The actress credited her six children — Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox — for helping her rediscover parts of herself that had been buried during years of personal challenges.

“They know me more than anybody, and they still like me, which says a lot,” Jolie said.

The actress added that her children have encouraged her to reconnect with aspects of her personality and creativity that she no longer felt free to express.

“I think they’re very encouraging of me kind of getting back to aspects of myself that maybe I hadn’t felt as free to do.”

A Family Moving Forward

Jolie’s comments come amid continued public attention surrounding the family’s evolving relationship with Brad Pitt.

Several of the couple’s children have reportedly chosen to distance themselves from the Pitt surname in recent years, with multiple siblings now publicly using Jolie as their last name.

Meanwhile, Jolie has increasingly collaborated professionally with her children.

Her eldest son, Maddox, worked alongside her on Couture as an assistant director, giving the pair a unique opportunity to share the filmmaking experience together.

Working Alongside Her Son Was Emotional

Speaking about working with Maddox on the film, Jolie admitted some scenes carried extra emotional weight because of the movie’s storyline.

In Couture, she portrays a filmmaker who learns she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Reflecting on filming those moments while her son was nearby, Jolie said it was impossible not to think about real life.

“You’re sitting in a hospital room getting this news, and you step out, and there’s your son,” she explained.

“And of course you’re thinking in the back of your mind that there will be a real day like this.”

After years defined by legal battles, family transitions and personal struggles, Jolie says she’s finally rediscovering the drive that once fueled her career — and she credits her children for helping her find it again.