Angelina Jolie: Punk Spirit Returns

Angelina Jolie takes on the role of Maxine, a low-budget horror director, in Alice Winocour's new drama "Couture." The film sees Maxine navigating a fashion house commission, a divorce, and a breast cancer diagnosis. Winocour wrote the part with Jolie in mind, citing shared experiences and a desire for her "punk spirit."

Jolie discusses her connection to the character, noting her own experience with the BRCA1 gene and a preventive double mastectomy, influenced by her mother's and grandmother's deaths from cancer. She states her fighting spirit is returning, largely thanks to her older children who encourage her to travel and engage with life.

Previously, Jolie had considered leaving acting to focus on directing and international work, but returned to acting for projects that allowed her to be present for her children. The film also features Ella Rumpf and Anyier Anei, with all three women finding solidarity at vulnerable life stages.

"Couture," originally titled "Ride or Die," explores survival and the celebration of life, showing the vulnerability beneath polished appearances. A scene depicting a mastectomy incision preparation deeply affected Jolie, reminding her of mortality and her own life's pace.