Angelina Jolie, the acclaimed actress and humanitarian, has often spoken about the profound influence her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, had on her life and career. Bertrand, a dedicated actress herself, inspired Jolie’s initial foray into acting and shaped her emotional connection to the craft. Despite her mother’s untimely death, Jolie continues to honor her legacy both in her career choices and personal life.
Who Was Marcheline Bertrand?
Marcheline Bertrand was born on May 9, 1950, in Blue Island, Illinois. She was an aspiring actress in the 1970s but stepped away from Hollywood to focus on raising her children after her separation from actor Jon Voight, with whom she had two children—Angelina Jolie and James Haven.
Bertrand was known not just for her beauty and talent but for her compassionate nature and philanthropic work. She co-founded the Give Love Give Life organization, which raised awareness about ovarian and cervical cancer—diseases that would later impact her life profoundly.
Marcheline Bertrand’s Battle with Cancer and Passing
Bertrand passed away on January 27, 2007, at the age of 56, after a nearly decade-long battle with ovarian and breast cancer. Her passing deeply affected Jolie, who has since become an outspoken advocate for cancer awareness and preventive healthcare.
The Profound Impact on Angelina Jolie’s Career
Angelina Jolie has frequently shared how her mother’s influence shaped her acting career. In a 2024 interview, Jolie revealed that she pursued acting to fulfill her mother’s dreams rather than personal ambition.
Key Quotes from Jolie:
- “I don’t remember making the choice to become an actress. It was her dream, and I felt I was doing it for her.” (Page Six)
- “Acting became harder after my mother’s death. I realized how much of it was for her.” (People.com)
Jolie’s emotional connection to her mother extended into her acting style, often drawing from personal loss and pain to deliver deeply emotional performances in films such as Girl, Interrupted (1999) and Maleficent (2014).
Career Changes After Bertrand’s Death
Bertrand’s passing marked a significant turning point for Jolie. She shifted her focus from acting to humanitarian work and directing, aligning with causes her mother deeply cared about. She worked extensively with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and founded the Preventive Health Care Initiative, inspired by her mother’s cancer battle.
Motherhood and Jolie’s Relationship with Her Own Children
Jolie has often expressed how her mother’s nurturing spirit influences her parenting style. As a mother of six children, including Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne, Jolie emphasizes emotional closeness, a value she inherited from Bertrand.
She also strives to pass down her mother’s lessons on compassion, resilience, and self-discovery to her children, encouraging them to pursue their own passions rather than fulfilling parental expectations.
Honoring Marcheline Bertrand’s Legacy
Jolie has honored her mother in numerous public ways:
- Dedications: She dedicated her directorial debut, In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011), to her mother.
- Health Advocacy: Jolie famously underwent a preventive double mastectomy in 2013 after discovering she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation linked to breast cancer, the same illness that claimed her mother’s life. She cited her mother’s experience as a motivating factor.
- Film Projects: Jolie’s recent role as opera legend Maria Callas in Maria has also been linked to her desire to honor her mother’s artistic aspirations.
Marcheline Bertrand’s influence on Angelina Jolie extends far beyond Hollywood glamour. From career choices to parenting philosophy and health advocacy, Bertrand’s legacy remains a guiding force in Jolie’s life. The emotional bond they shared continues to inspire Jolie’s artistic and humanitarian efforts, ensuring her mother’s compassionate spirit endures.
