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From Hollywood
wild-child to Academy Award winner to respected U.N. Goodwill
Ambassador, actress Angelina Jolie underwent a series of
metamorphic transformations over the course of her career. An
exceedingly beautiful, strikingly talented performer, Jolie
broke onto the scene in the mid-1990s, quickly gaining a
reputation for both her on-screen work as well as her outrageous
off-camera antics. Interestingly enough, however, within a
decade, Jolie shed her reckless image and successfully managed
to re-invent herself not only as an artist, but also as a
celebrity humanitarian of the highest order. Only half-chidingly
dubbed by Esquire magazine as the best woman in the world, in
terms of her generosity, her dedication and her courage, Jolie
seemed intent on remaking her image on her own terms, even as
the tabloids struggled to scandalize it. In the mid-2000s,
Jolies public profile exploded into another stratosphere when
she became romantically linked with the "sexiest man alive,"
Brad Pitt. After his then scandalous divorce from wife Jennifer
Aniston, Pitt and Jolie slowly came out as a couple to the
delight of the worlds paparazzi. Now one half of the most
gorgeous couple on earth, Jolie used her celebrity to bring
attention to a number of worthwhile causes winning the grudging
respect of even the most cynical of her critics.
The daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand,
Angelina Jolie (Voight) was born on Jun. 4, 1975 in Los Angeles,
CA. Like her older brother by two years, director James Haven (Voight,)
Jolie seemed destined for a career in the arts. At the age of
11, she began studying at the famed Lee Strasberg Theater
Institute in NYC. Even before commencing her formal training,
Jolie made her screen debut as a tyke in a bit part in the Hal
Ashby-directed comedy "Lookin' to Get Out" (filmed in 1980;
released 1982). While reviewers savaged the movie (which was
co-scripted and co-produced by her father, Jon), its littlest
thespian fortunately emerged unscathed. The experience briefly
turned young Angelina off of show business she even briefly
considered going into funeral directing for a time but because
it was in her blood, she eventually bounced back.
With two extremely photogenic parents, it came as no surprise
that Jolie inherited gorgeous good looks most striking of all
were lush lips which made her a standout from all other young
girls. Her comeliness allowed her to segue back into show
business, first as a professional model, and later, as an
actress in music videos. In addition to appearing in five
student films directed by her older brother, Jolie became a
member of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Theatre Company, where
she honed her craft alongside such veteran players as Holly
Hunter, Ed Harris and Amy Madigan. Jolie made her return to the
screen playing a heroic human-machine hybrid in the
above-average direct-to-video sci-fi actioner, "Cyborg II: Glass
Shadows" (1993), but the entry went virtually unnoticed by
critics. Luckily, her flashy role as Kate (a.k.a. 'Acid Burn')
in the cyber-thriller "Hackers" (1995) garnered her more
attention and better notices. Paired with rising young British
actor Jonny Lee Miller, Jolie played a teen computer whiz
battling an evil genius. Hackers fizzled at the box office, but
the romantic leads sizzled both on-screen and off. Jolie and
Millers chemistry eventually culminated in their wedding in 1996.
Though the two would divorce just three years later, Jolie and
Miller would remain close friends even after their break-up.
Awards:
MTV Movie Award (2006)
Best Fight - "Mr. And Mrs. Smith"
People's Choice (2005)
Favorite Female Action Movie Star
People's Choice Award (2005)
Favorite Female Action Movie Star
Citizen of the World Award (2003)
ShoWest Award (2000)
Supporting Actress
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