Angelina Jolie opened up about what helped her cope while filming her latest movie, Couture, where she plays a director diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Ahead of the 2025 Toronto Film Festival premiere, Jolie revealed how wearing a necklace belonging to her late mother brought her comfort during the emotional process of portraying the character.
Personal Connection to the Role and Emotional Impact
The subject of breast cancer is deeply personal for Jolie, who underwent a preventive double mastectomy in 2013 after discovering she carried the BRCA1 gene. Her mother died from ovarian and breast cancer, intensifying the emotional weight of the role. Jolie described feeling “very vulnerable” while filming due to the closeness of the story to her own life.
The Community of Support on Set
Jolie further shared that the necklace was not the only source of strength. She felt a strong bond with the cast and crew, who collectively brought a sense of comfort during the shoot. Regarding the atmosphere on set, Jolie said,
“But I have always found the heaviest films tend to have the most loving sets. There’s something quite comforting about having real conversations and having real feelings with a shared community. It was quite healing in many ways because you look at the other faces of the people on the set, because one in three people have cancer, and most everybody’s been in a hospital room with somebody they’ve loved. Everybody on set has lost someone they’ve loved,”
—Angelina Jolie
The Significance of Jolie’s Experience and What Lies Ahead
This role stands out as a meaningful part of Jolie’s career, marrying her personal history with powerful storytelling. The support system she found on set not only helped her tackle difficult emotions but also highlighted the shared experiences of loss and healing in cancer caregiving. With its premiere approaching at the Toronto Film Festival, Couture is likely to resonate with many who understand the impact of cancer on families and communities.
