In a touching candid essay for Time, Angelina Jolie has revealed two of her daughters with Brad Pitt have been undergoing surgery for the past two months.
Writing the piece to mark International Women’s Day, Angelina praised her daughters Zahara Jolie-Pitt, 15, and Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, 13 – who were not mentioned by name in the essay – for their strength and care towards one another.
“I have spent the last two months in and out of surgeries with my eldest daughter, and days ago watched her younger sister go under the knife for a hip surgery,” Angelina wrote.
In the lengthy essay, Angelina described the experience of watching her girls facing “medical challenges.”
Angelina picture with her six children (from left) Knox, Vivienne, Pax, Shiloh, Zahara and Maddox.
(Image: Getty)
“I saw how all my girls so easily stopped everything and put each other first, and felt the joy of being of service to those they love,” she added.
“I also watched them their face fears with a resolute bravery. We all know that moment when no one else can help us, and all we can do is close our eyes and breathe. When only we can take the next step or breath through the pain, so we steady ourselves and do it.”
Angelina added that she believed the notion of “caring coming more naturally to girls” is often abused and highlighted the importance of valuing and standing up for the rights of women across the world.
WATCH: Angelina Jolie and all six of her kids walk the red carpet together. Story continues below…
The surgeries also explain the reason Brad Pitt was mysteriously absent from the BAFTAs in London in February.
Brad pulled out last-minute and instead sent his Once Up A Time in Hollywood co-star Margot Robbie to pick up his award, citing a “family obligation” as the reason for his absence.
As well as Zahara and Shiloh, former couple Brad and Angelina share four other children: Maddox, 18, Pax, 16, and 11-year-old twins Vivienne and Knox.
While Brad didn’t attend the BAFTAs, he did make an appearance at the 2020 Oscars, where he paid tribute to his kids when accepting his award for Best Supporting Actor in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
“This is for my kids, who colour everything I do,” Brad said as he teared up. “I adore you.”
In his Oscars acceptance speech, Brad paid tribute to his kids, saying they “colour everything I do.”
(Image: Getty)