Angelina Jolie Is Ready To Bare Her Scars 12 Years After Choosing Health

Angelina Jolie is showcasing the evidence of her breast cancer journey in a new emotional cover story!

The Hollywood icon lost multiple women in her family to the fatal condition, including her mother, leading her to take preventive measures over a decade ago to reduce her chances of developing the disease.

Now, Angelina Jolie is ready to bare it all and show the world the scars she got along the way.

The "Tomb Raider" star unveiled the scars from her preventive double mastectomy operation in a new interview with TIME France. The pictures are set to be released alongside the full interview on December 18, with a snippet capturing the reason behind her decision.

"I share these scars with many women I love. And I'm always moved when I see other women share theirs," Jolie began. "I wanted to join them, knowing that TIME France would be sharing information about breast health, prevention, and knowledge about breast cancer."

Jolie underwent a preventive double mastectomy in May 2013, followed by reconstructive surgery after discovering she carried the infamous BRCA gene. The genetic mutation increases the chances of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

In her cover story, Jolie advocated for more accessible healthcare for women, particularly BRCA screenings to help them be better informed about cancer risks. "When I shared my experience in 2013, it was to encourage informed choices," the actress explained.

"Healthcare decisions must be personal, and women must have the information and support they need to make those choices," Jolie continued. "Access to screening and care should not depend on financial resources or where someone lives," she added.

This isn't the first time Jolie has pushed for better healthcare for women, as she echoed similar sentiments in 2019. In an emotional piece for TIME, she reflected on losing her mother and grandmother to cancer and how preventive surgeries influenced her health.

After losing her grandmother and mother to cancer, Jolie became more involved in her health and soon discovered she had the BRCA1 gene thanks to advancements in medical knowledge. The test results came too late for the other women in her family; however, Jolie was lucky and took preventive measures.

Doctors advised her to undergo a preventive double mastectomy because of her high risk of developing breast cancer. Jolie later removed her ovaries and fallopian tubes because she was also at risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Jolie stressed that these preventive surgeries did not completely remove her risk of developing cancer, but significantly reduced it. On that note, she emphasized the importance of raising awareness about cancer in women and furthering research on the topic.

Besides fighting against her chances of developing cancer, Jolie has been locked in a years-long battle with her ex-husband, Brad Pitt. The former couple initially began butting heads over their divorce before fighting over their French vineyard, Chateau Miraval.

The Blast reported in November that the lengthy court battle had taken its toll on Jolie, who allegedly complained about the situation to her business manager in May 2021. The unveiled email read in part:

"I honestly feel I am getting sick from worry. So I would like us to discuss better support. And not continuing relationships that you see cause me stress."

Pitt wasn't the only stressful factor in Jolie's life, as another email revealed her complaining about her older brother, James Haven Voight. The Blast covered the story, reporting that she seemingly slammed her sibling for being ungrateful.

According to the message, Jolie complained about repeatedly funding her brother's lifestyle without so much as a thank you for her efforts. She described the situation as "just wrong," and stressed that it shouldn't be her responsibility to cater to his needs each year.

Jolie seemed exasperated with her brother, pointing out that he did not bother to save or make better financial decisions because he relied on her funds. The redacted email was leaked after her ex-husband demanded her private communications in their Chateau Miraval case.

What will Angelina Jolie share next amid her legal drama with her ex-husband?