Angelina Jolie has kept a relatively low profile since her shock split with Brad Pitt in September last year.
The actress and activist however returned to the spotlight over the weekend for the premiere of her new film, First They Killed My Father in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The passion project, based on memoir of the same name by Loung Ung details the devastation caused by the communist Khmer Rouge’s regime in the 1970s.
Ange, who was joined by all six of her children, Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 8, looked stunning in a floor-length hot pink gown.
During the press tour, Angelina sat down with a BBC journalist, who asked her about the split with Pitt and the “incident” that preceded it.
“I don’t want to say very much about [the incident],” replied Angelina. “Except to say that it was a very difficult time and we are a family.
“And we’ll always be a family. And we’ll get through this time and hopefully be a stronger family for it.”
Later Jolie added: “Many people find themselves in this situation, and we’ve all been through a difficult time. My focus is my children, our children, and finding the way through. That’s how I’m coping — with finding a way through to make sure this somehow makes us stronger, closer.”
Her sons Maddox, who was born in Cambodia, and Pax, both worked on the project, and during the premiere Ange opened up about her personal connection with the country.
“This film was not made to focus on the horrors of the past, but to celebrate the resilience, kindness and talent of the Cambodian people,” she said.
“Most of all, this film is my way of saying thank you to Cambodia.
“Without Cambodia, I may never have become a mother. Part of my heart is and will always be in this country. And part of this country is always with me: Maddox.”
Maddox and Shiloh also spoke at the premiere.
“Thank you everyone for attending tonight. We finally made it. It’s a great honor to present this film to all of you, and to stand by my mother and my family,” said Maddox. “And now I’d like to introduce my little sister Shiloh, as she has something to say.”
“My name is Shiloh and I love Cambodia,” she added.
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