Hollywood sensation Angelina Jolie turns 38

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Angelina Jolie – the name evokes a plethora of feelings in every mind whenever it is heard or read. From being Hollywood’s highest paid actress (Forbes 2009, 2011) to the woman who boldly spoke about her double mastectomy, Angelina Jolie is a person who, on the one hand is renowned for her acting prowess and on the other is loved for her humanitarian work. Hollywood’s much-loved sensation turns 38 today. Angelina Jolie was born to actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand in Los Angeles, California. Her parents separated when Jolie was barely a toddler and she grew up with her mother. After a teenage full of inconsistent professions, Jolie finally began her professional film career in 1993 with ‘Cyborg 2’. However, the film led to a lot of disappointment in the actress and she found herself not appearing for any auditions for a year. After a few other films, Jolie won herself a Golden Globe for her performance in ‘George Wallace’. In 2001, Angelina Jolie’s ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’ catapulted her to the league of international superstars. Despite receiving mostly negative reviews, the film turned into an international success. Thereafter, with a brief hiatus of unsuccessful films, Jolie got back to her Lara Croft avatar with ‘Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life’ in 2003. This film helped the actress establish herself as the highest paid actress in Hollywood. Angelina Jolie, in the last decade, has enjoyed continued success and fulfillment as far as her career is concerned. In her personal life too, the actress has admitted to being in a very happy space with her fiancé Brad Pitt. Popularly known as Brangelina, Brad and Angelina have always been on the radar of the media ever since the two went public with their relationship.The actress is involved in a lot of humanitarian work too. She has been a UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) Goodwill Ambassador since 2001. After more than a decade of her work in strife-torn areas, Jolie was promoted to the rank of Special Envoy of High Commissioner António Guterres. In the recent past, Angelina Jolie has undergone a preventive double mastectomy when she was diagnosed with a faulty gene. Having lost her own mother to breast cancer, Jolie did not want to risk the same happening to her own children. The surgery and Angelina’s decision to come out in public with the same was hailed in the media worldwide and she was praised for her bravery. Here’s wishing the gorgeous human being a very happy birthday!