The Inspiring Story of How Angelina Jolie and Her Father Found Common Ground After Years of Estrangement

For years, Angelina Jolie was known to have a fraught relationship with her father, Oscar-winning actor John Voight. The pair had many disagreements in the past, which even led them to have zero contact for several years. But after the actress’s mom passed away, she slowly started reconnecting with her dad. Through a shared passion for film and Jolie’s kids’ help, the 2 have successfully mended their relationship and are beginning a new chapter.

Angelina Jolie’s parents separated when she was a toddler.

Angelina Jolie’s parents, John Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, were married for 9 years and had 2 children together. They both made their mark on the acting world — Voight was even awarded an Oscar in 1979 for his role in Coming Home. Voight and Bertrand got divorced in 1980 when Jolie was still a small child.

Voight wasn’t the ideal husband, and he admitted to having an affair.

There were many speculations about what led to Voight and Bertrand’s divorce, but recently Jolie’s dad admitted to infidelity, explaining, “I had an affair and there was a divorce. There was a lot of hurt and anger.”

Jolie also talked about her parents’ divorce as one of the reasons why she had a difficult relationship with her father. “When my father had an affair, it changed her life. It set her dream of family life ablaze. But she still loved being a mother,” Jolie said about her mom.

Despite her parents’ messy separation, Jolie was a daddy’s girl for many years.

It seems like both Voight and Jolie’s problems built up over the years because at the beginning of the actress’s career, her dad was often there to support her. In the film, Lookin’ to Get Out, Jolie got her first movie role, which happened to be alongside her father, when she was only 7 years old. In 2001, they were co-stars once again in the successful adventure film, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

When Angelina Jolie won an Oscar in 2000, she also praised her dad in her acceptance speech, saying, “Dad, you’re a great actor, but you’re a better father.” Years later, she recalled Voight’s reaction: “He told me that that was one of the biggest compliments somebody could give him, that it was so important to be a great father. And so, it was an exceptional night for everybody in my family.”

After Jolie’s divorce from Billy Bob Thornton, the father-daughter duo became estranged.

Jolie’s marriage with her second husband ended in 2003, and around that time, her relationship with Voight soured too. Voight said some hurtful things about his daughter, while Jolie preferred to keep their problems out of the spotlight. However, she said, “After all these years, I have determined that it is not healthy for me to be around my father.”

They had zero contact for 5 years.

The father-daughter duo’s falling out led them to not speak to each other for several years. In the same year, Jolie filed for divorce, and she also legally dropped her father’s surname. “My father and I don’t speak,” Jolie revealed in 2004. Jolie and Voight would only break their silence in 2007 when the actress’s mom, Bertrand, unfortunately, passed away.

They began reaching out to each other in the past decade.

After her mom’s death, Jolie briefly informed Voight about her passing. The actress had a very close relationship with her mom, saying, “If anybody ever tells me that I am a mother to them like my mom was to me, it will be a great compliment.” But the brief phone call made by Jolie didn’t yet mean that she and Voight were back on speaking terms.

“I’m always trying to reach her and send her my love,” Voight said in a 2008 interview. And in the same year, they also talked to each other on Christmas day. “We have spoken, and we are going to try to get to know each other and maybe try not to be this daddy and daughter, but to be there for each other as friends in the coming years,” Jolie said in an attempt to describe the reconciliation.

Angelina Jolie’s kids brought her closer to her dad.

Over the past decade, Voight and Jolie have slowly started warming up to each other again, and they were reportedly seen together several times. Jolie’s divorce proceedings from Brad Pitt have also brought them closer together, and so did Voight’s grandchildren. “He’s been very good at understanding they needed their grandfather at this time,” the actress said about her famous dad.

In a podcast, Jolie gave additional details about their reconciliation, revealing, “Jon and I have gotten to know each other — through grandchildren now. We’re finding a new relationship.” In recent years, Voight had only good things to say about his daughter, praising her talent. “She’s very strong. And that persona is very rare. When you see Angelina, you know what’s coming, you know who she is. She’s like one of those people like [Humphrey] Bogart or Katharine Hepburn.”

Angelina Jolie’s heartwarming decision to adopt Maddox from a Cambodian orphanage in 2002 marked the beginning of her beautiful blended family. Despite initial challenges due to Cambodia’s baby trafficking issues, Jolie’s bond with Maddox grew, leading her to further embrace Cambodian culture and history. Maddox’s influence even extended to Jolie’s directorial choices, as seen in her film “First They Killed My Father,” which delves into Cambodia’s past.

Angelina Jolie’s humanitarian spirit shines through her two-decade-long commitment to aiding refugees, fighting poverty, and conserving nature. Her journey began in Cambodia during the filming of “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” which ignited her passion for global causes. From purchasing land to create a wildlife reservation to supporting numerous foundations, Jolie’s philanthropic endeavors span various sectors. Notably, her advocacy for women’s rights and health awareness has made significant impacts, inspiring many, including her own children, to give back.

Recently, Angelina Jolie candidly discussed the pressures of conforming to Hollywood’s beauty standards, referencing her portrayal as Lara Croft. Despite rigorous training for the role, Jolie was taken aback by the edited film posters that removed her nipples, highlighting the industry’s unrealistic expectations. Embracing her unique features, Jolie champions body positivity, urging for a more inclusive representation of women in media.