Angelina Jolie has finally revealed the real reason why she chose to divorce Brad Pitt four years ago. At the time, Jolie cited irreconcilable differences but now the 45-year-old actress has admitted the split was for the sake of their children.
"I separated for the well-being of my family. It was the right decision," Jolie told Vogue India in an interview published on Friday. "I continue to focus on their healing. Some have taken advantage of my silence, and the children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds. In fact, they are six very brave, very strong young people."
Jolie also opened up about what it was like to raise Maddox, 18, Pax, 16, and Zahara, 15, who are all adopted, alongside her and Pitt's biological children: Shiloh, 14, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 11.
"What is important is to speak with openness about all of it and to share. 'Adoption' and 'orphanage' are positive words in our home," she said. "With my adopted children, I can’t speak of pregnancy, but I speak with much detail and love about the journey to find them and what it was like to look in their eyes for the first time."
Jolie said adopted children come with a "beautiful mystery of a world that is meeting yours." When children are from another race, they are full of mystery and were a gift to their adoptive parents, she added.
"For them, they must never lose touch with where they came from. They have roots that you do not. Honor them. Learn from them. It’s the most amazing journey to share. They are not entering your world, you are entering each other’s worlds."
Jolie filed for divorce from Pitt after just two years of marriage, but a lengthy romantic relationship.
Pitt later admitted to using drugs and alcohol for a large portion of his life, which he said "became a problem" in his marriage.
The "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" star explained that he finally decided to stop drinking after pushing the boundaries with the people closest to him.
"I had taken things as far as I could take it, so I removed my drinking privileges," Pitt told The New York Times. Joining AA was an important part of his sobriety. "It was actually really freeing just to expose the ugly sides of yourself," he added.