Angelina

One of my favorite actresses is Angelina Jolie. The reason is, she comes across as a very strong woman, someone who is courageous and won’t let anyone take advantage of her. She is not afraid to be herself and takes on controversy with grace. Yes, she has been described as strange, odd, weird and just plain bizarre, but she holds herself with such poise that she can get away with it. Her charity work is phenomenal, a fact no one would dispute. I still like to go see all her movies despite some of the weird publicity she has garnered.

Angelina has been rumored to have some unique and eccentric quirks that have gained her a lot of notoriety. She is not only well known for her excellent acting, but also for acting out in most bizarre ways. For example, at her first wedding she allegedly wore black leather pants and a white blouse with her husband’s name scrawled on the back in her own blood. I have searched extensively for a wedding photo, but have been unable to find any photos to corroborate this story so, as far as I’m concerned, it’s Urban Legend. Her second marriage to Billy Bob Thornton was also a bit strange in that she supposedly wore a necklace, containing a vial of his blood. He also wore one containing her blood. However, the Huntington Post did an interview with Angelina where she explained the story behind those necklaces, stating that they were not “vials” of blood. She has been accused of husband stealing, but no one really knows how she ended up with Brad Pitt. Only Jennifer, Angelina and Brad know for sure what happened. Angelina claims to this day that Brad did not cheat on Jennifer. Even if he had, in my opinion, it’s none of anyone’s business. Her father, Jon Voight, has referred to her in the past as mentally unstable, but he may not have any room to talk about that. There were even rumors she may have had a romantic relationship with her own brother, which both have vehemently denied. In Hollywood it is difficult to separate truth from fiction, and because there are always two sides to a story, I choose not to fully believe any of these reports. Sometimes it’s better not to know all that garbage about celebrities because it kind of destroys the "glam and glitter" that give movies and television that special appeal.

Most of her movies are fantastic, having just the right combination of intrigue, mystery, and action with some anger thrown in. These movies suck you in and it is almost impossible not to keep watching. They are definitely in the “I don’t want to get up to use the restroom” category. My favorites include the Tomb Raider movies, Salt, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Girl Interrupted and Wanted. I still have not seen “The Tourist” but that one is next on my list because it also has my favorite actor, Johnny Depp. The two of them together will probably make “The Tourist” another blockbuster.

No matter what people think about Angelina Jolie, she does a lot of charity work and has a big heart. She has been named Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. She has visited and donated her time to many refugee camps all over the world and even adopted several refugee children. She also donates millions of dollars to many humanitarian efforts. If more people volunteered their time and donated their money like she does, it could go a long way in fighting our world’s starving masses.

There is so much more to Angelina Jolie than just a beautiful face. She is an award winning actress who has been recognized for her work in several blockbuster movies; an excellent example of someone who genuinely cares about people who live in poverty; and has character. She is not afraid to be herself despite coming off as strange. I suppose some of the negative publicity that she has received is the price she pays for having everything going for her, and being one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood. I, for one, hope she continues to do well.