Angelina Jolie Gets Candid On Her Divorce & Being A Sex Symbol As She Covers Vanity Fair

Angelina Jolie is on the cover of the latest issue of Vanity Fair – her first magazine cover since news of her divorce from husband, Brad Pitt got out.

The actress and mother of 6 opens up about what the separation from Brad – who was her partner for 12 years, her health struggles and being a sex symbol among other things in the very candid cover story.

See excerpts below:

On being a sex symbol: The idea that she could still be anyone’s idea of a sex symbol is laughable to her. But she says, “I actually feel more of a woman because I feel like I’m being smart about my choices, and I’m putting my family first, and I’m in charge of my life and my health. I think that’s what makes a woman complete.”

On the separation from Pitt: “[Our lifestyle] was not in any way a negative,” she says quickly, adamantly. “That was not the problem. That is and will remain one of the wonderful opportunities we are able to give our children . . . They’re six very strong-minded, thoughtful, worldly individuals. I’m very proud of them.” Jolie has indicated that, for the sake of the kids, she doesn’t want to talk about the breakup. And yet it seems she wants to get her point across, which calls for a careful choice of words, something of a high-wire act. “They’ve been very brave. They were very brave.”

Brave when?

“In times they needed to be.” Other statements are similarly cryptic. “We’re all just healing from the events that led to the filing . . . They’re not healing from divorce. They’re healing from some . . . from life, from things in life.”

“We care for each other and care about our family, and we are both working towards the same goal. I was very worried about my mother, growing up—a lot. I do not want my children to be worried about me. I think it’s very important to cry in the shower and not in front of them. They need to know that everything’s going to be all right even when you’re not sure it is.”