Considered one of the most beautiful women in the world, Angelina Jolie has made her name in Hollywood as an intense actress, receiving acclaim for roles that seem to reflect her own complex life. Portraying the beautiful yet tragic title character in TV biopic “Gia” (1998), tortured sociopath in “Girl, Interrupted” (1999), and desperate mother in “Changeling” (2008), it’s as if Jolie has channeled her own tumultuous past – filled with strained family relations, failed marriages to actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton, the devastating death of her mother Marcheline Bertrand, and her own struggles with drugs – as inspiration. Simultaneously, her outward strength shines in her roles in action films such as “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” (2001) and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005).

Jolie’s authentic performances have earned her an Academy Award, three Golden Globes, and two Screen Actors Guild awards. She has found additional success as a humanitarian, serving as Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, working on field missions in over 20 countries, and donating time and money to worldwide organizations through the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.

Jolie has also garnered fame for her eccentric lifestyle (bisexual relationships, wild sexual proclivities, the vial of Billy Bob’s blood that she wore around her neck), and faced tabloid scrutiny over her four-year relationship with Brad Pitt. However, her role as mother to her six children – three biological, three adopted – seems to have softened and centered Jolie. She remains one of Hollywood’s most intriguing stars, and critics and audiences alike will continue to watch and see what she does next.