Angelina Jolie reveals why she stepped away from film: ‘I don’t feel like I’ve been myself for a decade’

Angelina Jolie has opened up about a difficult transition in her life, and revealed that a period of introspection prompted her to take a step away from starring in major movies the past 10 years.

In an interview tied to the launch of Atelier Jolie, her new socially and environmentally conscious fashion endeavor, the 48-year-old Oscar winner and humanitarian told Vogue that she has largely attempted to communicate her complicated feelings through clothing — including while she navigated a particularly difficult time in her recent life.

“Sometimes the way you dress says, ‘Don’t mess with me — I’ve got my armor on.’ But I want a woman to feel safe enough that she can be soft,” Jolie said. “After I went through something where I was hurt, I had a therapist ask if I would try wearing a flowing garment. Sounds silly, but I ᴀssumed that pants and boots projected a ‘tougher’ look, a stronger me. But was I strong enough to be soft? At the time, no. I felt vulnerable. Now I wonder if I don’t know what my style is because I’m still understanding who I am at 48. I guess I’m in transition as a person.”

She elaborated, noting that she feels a “bit down these days,” before making a striking revelation. “I don’t feel like I’ve been myself for a decade, in a way,” she said. “Which I don’t want to get into.”

Though she’s taken recent high-profile starring roles in Eternals and Those Who Wish Me ᴅᴇᴀᴅ — also directing the critically acclaimed drama First They Killed My Father — Jolie admitted to Vogue that she consciously pulled back on Hollywood projects around 2017, “only taking jobs that didn’t require long shoots” because she “had a lot of healing to do.”

“We’re still finding our footing,” she added. “I think part of [Atelier Jolie] has also been therapeutic for me — to work in a creative space with people you trust and to rediscover yourself. I’m hoping to change many aspects of my life. And this is the forward-facing one.”

Representatives for Jolie did not immediately respond to EW’s request for comment.

Outside of her work in film, Jolie recently tapped her 15-year-old daughter, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, to work as her ᴀssistant while she produces a musical adaptation of The Outsiders for the stage.