Get to Know Angelina Jolie's Behind-the-Camera Career
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When you hear the name Angelina Jolie, movies like Girl Interrupted, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and The Eternals may immediately come to mind. But did you know that besides being a well-known actress (who has won several awards, may we add), the famous Hollywood star has done a bunch of work behind the camera, too?
Beyond acting in dozens of films, ranging from romance thrillers to Disney fantasy flicks, Jolie has also taken on the role of director, producer, writer, and more. Since her directorial debut in 2007, she’s headed documentary films, premiered her movies at festivals, and even executive produced a popular Disney picture that she also starred in. Yes, Jolie’s been busy.
If you’re interested in taking a glimpse at some of Jolie’s film projects so far, then you’re in luck. Ahead, we’ve rounded up some of the actor’s work that she’s done behind the lens.
A Place in Time
In 2007, Jolie had her directorial debut with A Place in Time, a documentary film that showed how people around the globe go about their daily lives. During filming, Jolie and fellow Hollywood actors, including Jude Law, Wyclef Jean, Hilary Swank, and Anne Hathaway, traveled to places such as refugee camps and orphanages to raise more awareness about what’s happening in other countries. The film premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival.
In the Land of Blood and Honey
Jolie took on the roles of director, writer, and producer for the 2011 war drama film, In the Land of Blood and Honey. The movie centers around a soldier and his experience reuniting with a past love under challenging circumstances.
Maleficent
Nearly a decade ago, Jolie graced big screens everywhere as Maleficent in the Disney fantasy film of the same name. However, she didn’t just act in this flick, but executive produced the picture as well.
The Hollywood actress’ daughter, Vivienne, also had a role—she played the young Aurora, something Jolie says was done out of “necessity.” "All the little kids that came to set would be terrified,” she shared during a press conference for the movie. “They would cry, or they would freeze, and they certainly couldn't do a scene with me, so it actually was genuinely out of necessity that it had to be Vivienne so we could have a good scene.”
By the Sea
In 2015, the Hollywood actress directed and starred in the romance drama, By the Sea opposite her then-husband, Brad Pitt. Jolie shared a few years after that, while filming the movie with Pitt, she hoped it would help their marriage. However, the two announced their split less than a year after the movie’s release.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Jolie reprised the title role of Maleficent in the 2014 movie’s second installment, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. She’s also named as one of the producers in the credits.
The Breadwinner
Jolie also executive produced The Breadwinner, an animated movie based on Deborah Ellis’s best-selling novel. The film was inspired by Ellis’s experience interviewing refugees at an Afghan refugee camp in the 90s. The Breadwinner premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2017 and was nominated for an Academy Award.
BBC: My World
In 2020, Jolie joined forces with Microsoft Education to start BBC: My World, a news program geared towards teenagers. Each episode focused on different important topics affecting young people around the globe. Jolie acted as the show’s executive producer.
Afghan Girls: An Uncertain Future
In 2021, Jolie executive produced Afghan Girls: An Uncertain Future for BBC. The short, featuring journalist Yalda Hakim, looks closely at how Afghan girls live under Taliban rule.
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