It’s a love story so epic, not even a Hollywood screen writer could capture it, fraught with controversy and under the intense pressure of the public eye, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have, despite all the odds, made us believe in love again.
August 23, 2015 marks the date Angelina and Brad Pitt finally tied the knot at their French chateau surrounded by the people that they loved most after nine years, and six kids together.
A year on from their nuptials we take a look back on their incredible journey to love.
It all began on the set of Mr and Mrs Smith where Angelina, now 40, was famously blamed for ruining the relationship between Brad Pitt, 51, and his former wife Jennifer Aniston.
Both camps vehemently denied these rumours and it did nothing to halt their ever-lasting love. Brad and Jen announced their divorce in 2005 but it wasn’t until 2006 when Ange confirmed she was pregnant with their first daughter Shiloh that the pair first publically acknowledged their love.
As their first year as husband and wife comes to an end, Brangelina are as happy as ever!
“It did change things,” the Oscar winner admitted of finally marrying Brad to the US’sToday show.
She added: “It was in just a feeling of that security and comfort that we always had, but recommitting after 10 years together.”
The Lara Croft: Tomb Raider actress continued: “We were fortunate enough to be in that unusual situation where we got married with our children, and they were a part of the ceremony and they wrote some of the vows.”
“So it was all of us agreeing to be together and to commit to this life together — not because we had to, not because anything was missing in our lives,” she revealed, before adding: “but because we were absolutely sure. It was really lovely, it was a lovely day.”
Click through to see Brand Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s love story, in their own words
Brad revealed to CBS This Morning in 2012 that despite his wife’s philanthropy and motherhood, she still has a naughty side, “She’s still a bad girl, delightfully so. It’s not for public consumption.”
Angelina told Good Morning America prior to their wedding that there was only one thing that mattered, “I think the important thing is that whatever we do it’s that the kids do have a great time, and we all — you know, take seriously the love, and the connection between all of us. But also just get silly and do something memorable.”
Angelina Jolie explained to Hello! after their wedding that Brad, “has expanded my life in ways I never imagined. We built a family. He is not just the love my life, he is my family. I hold that very dear.”
The Fight Club star isn’t shy about expressing his love for his wife, telling USA Today, “There are no secrets at our house. We tell the kids, ‘Mum and Dad are going off to kiss.’ They go, ‘Eww, gross!’ But we demand it.”
“A family is a risky venture, because the greater the love, the greater the loss. That’s the trade-off. But I’ll take it all,” Brad mused toParade.
Hello! magazine’s Brangelina wedding issue from 2014 has some incredibly touching words from the couple. “I suppose what I’ve learned from Brad is to be able to have the kind of family whose happiness and well-being comes before your own. I’m very very grateful to have such a loving family, and I wouldn’t have that without him,” Ange divulged to the mag.
Despite denying that the pair were together during the filming of Mr and Mrs Smith , Angelina let slip to the Today Show: “Not a lot of people get to see a movie where their parents fell in love. What’s going to be funny is when they think Mum and Dad are a little bit cool. Because right now, we’re not cool Mum and Dad.”
In their epic Hello! Magazine interview to mark their marriage, Angelina got candid about their commitment to each other, “maintaining a marriage and raising kids is hard work. You have to really make sure that your work doesn’t get in the way. That you don’t do something that is going to put too much strain on your family.”
In his 2011 Parade magazine interview, Brad touchingly revealed, “One of the greatest, smartest things I ever did was give my kids Angie as their mum. She is such a great mum. Oh, man, I’m so happy to have her.”
“I suppose what I’ve learned from Brad is to be able to have the kind of family whose happiness and well-being comes before your own,” The Changeling actress told Hello!.
On raising a family in the public eye: “Our kids have to live behind a gate. Outside, there are people with cameras… But I’ll take the trade-off. I never knew I was capable of experiencing so much love,” Brad told USA Weekend
The whole world’s jaw-dropped when they saw Angelina’s incredible wedding dress for the first time, which featured touching drawings by her children throughout it, the pair sold the photographs from the wedding for an whopping $5 million – money that they donated to charity.