They went through a messy split and custody battle, but Angelina Jolie seems to be feeling more amicable towards her soon-to-be ex-husband, Brad Pitt.
Speaking for the first time about their pending divorce to BBC World News’ Yalda Hakim in Cambodia, the actor, 41, was asked if she would like to comment about “an incident” that occurred in her marriage that led to their separation.
Promoting her fourth feature as director, First they killed my Father, she became emotional before responding: “I don’t want to say very much about that, except to say it was a very difficult time and…and we are a family and we will always be a family, and we will get through this time and hopefully be a stronger family for it.”
Pitt, 53, was investigated by the FBI over child abuse allegations involving their son, Maddox, that allegedly happened on a private plane, but he was later cleared.
The pair announced their shock split last September after 12 years together. They were married for two years. Jolie requested full custody, while Pitt requested joint custody of their six children: Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 8.
When asked how she was coping, the Oscar winner said she was focusing her efforts on their children and hinted their custody battle might be nearing an end.
“Many people find themselves in this situation. My family…we’ve all being through a difficult time,” she started out.
“My focus is my children, our children, and it is and my focus is finding this way through and as I said we are and forever will be a family and so that is my, that is how I am coping.
“I am coping with finding a way through to make sure that this somehow makes us stronger and closer.”
When she first wakes in the morning, Jolie said she just wants to “get through the day – it’s been a difficult few months”.
Elaborating further she gave a glimpse into life as a single mother taking care of six children.
“Right now I’m going through a moment when just everybody’s in my room. Two dogs, two hamsters and two children at the moment. It’s wonderful…But usually I just wake up trying to figure out who’s going to get dog out, who’s going to start the pancakes and did anybody brush their teeth,” she laughed again.
In five years’ time, she hopes her children (who will all be in their teens by then) will be away from the glare of the spotlight and enjoying the world.
“In five years’ time I would like to be travelling around the world visiting my children hoping that they’re just happy and doing really interesting things, and I imagine in many different parts of the world, and I’ll be supporting them.
“Everything I do I hope is that I represent something, and I represent the right things to my children, and give them the right sense of what they’re capable of, and the world as it should be seen. Not through the prism of Hollywood or through a certain kind of life, but really take them into the world, where they have a really good sense and become rounded people.”
Early last month, the estranged pair released a joint statement in which they agreed to seal all court documents pertaining to their divorce in order to protect their children.
“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,” the statement read.
Source: Stuff.co.nz