Angelina Jolie Says Sons Maddox & Pax Saw Her Express 'A Lot Of Pain' For The First Time On 'Maria' Set

Angelina Jolie opened up about working with her sons, Maddoxand Pax Jolie-Pitt, on the set of "Maria," where they served as production assistants.

The film, which explored the life of opera singer Maria Callas, revealed vulnerabilities Jolie usually hid from her kids.

Angelina Jolie also recently reflected on her loneliness amid an ongoing legal battle with her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, over Château Miraval.

In a recent interview with the BBC, Jolie discussed a deeply personal experience on the set of her latest film, "Maria," where her eldest sons, Maddox, 23, and Pax, 21, worked as production assistants.

While portraying opera singer Maria Callas, Jolie shared that the biographical, psychological drama film brought emotions to the surface that her children had rarely witnessed.

"They've of course seen me go through a lot of things, but they hadn't experienced me expressing a lot of the pain that usually a parent hides from a child," she shared.

The "Maleficent" star also revealed how Maddox and Pax offered comfort during those moments, often bringing her "cups of tea" or simply giving her a reassuring hug.

Reflecting on the experience, the actress said it allowed her to connect with her family on a deeper level and embrace a new kind of openness in her relationships.

"Maria"—already sparking Oscars buzz following its trailer—premiered on Netflix on December 11.

Jolie's latest revelation comes as she shared a heartfelt admission about her struggles with loneliness in an interview with The Sun in London.

During the conversation, the mom of six reflected on her connection to opera legend Callas, stating: "I have my children I love but as an adult I'm often alone, I find myself identifying with the solitude and loneliness she has."

The actress admitted that she's still learning how to navigate life independently, adding: "I also haven't quite figured out how to live life in a way where I'm on my own, maybe a lot of artists feel that we're in an open space as a person."

This follows Jolie's significant legal win in her ongoing battle with ex-husband Pitt, as a judge ordered the actor to turn over documents and communications that may support claims of abuse against Jolie and their six children.

The legal feud stems from Pitt's 2022 lawsuit against Jolie over her decision to sell her stake in their French estate, Château Miraval. Since then, the former couple has exchanged heated allegations in court, keeping the dispute at the forefront of their legal battles.

In August, the 49-year-old spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the valuable experience her sons gained during the production of Maria.

"Mad and Pax were on this one. Doing AD [assistant directing] work. They've done that quite a few times, and I think that's good for them," she explained. "Pax tends to do stills and he gets brought in, and [director] Pablo was wonderful and recognized that he was good at it."

Jolie also revealed why she decided to return to acting, explaining that her kids' growing independence has given her more flexibility.

"They're a bit older, getting more independent. I'm less needed and so able to go away for different periods of time," Jolie said. "And they're old enough to join me at work. It's a new season in our lives. I'm very excited for them to be coming into their own more and more every day."

More recently, Jolie was spotted on the Paris set of her upcoming film, "Stitches." There, she was photographed shooting scenes for the Fashion drama at a wig shop and later in a hospital courtyard.

According to Daily Mail, she was accompanied by her eldest son, Maddox, who joined the production team as the third assistant director.

Maddox isn't the only Jolie-Pitt sibling present on set as Zahara, 19, has also been seen on set, though her specific role remains unclear.

In an interview with CR Fashion Book, Jolie, who has an extensive collection of tattoos, revealed that some of her six children share the same tattoos with her.

When interviewer Carine Roitfeld asked about her latest tattoo, Jolie explained, "I got 'Stay Gold' with my daughter Viv during our time with 'The Outsiders.' It means so much to us separately and together."

The "Maleficent" actress also shared that some of her other children have matching tattoos.

"There is also a Bird that I share with some of my children that is personal to us," she noted. In June, Jolie first revealed the bird tattoo at the Tony Awards in New York City.