Angelina Jolie Reveals Her Kids Have 'Been Through a Lot,' Mentions Brad Pitt in 'Harper's Bazaar'

Angelina Jolie is on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar magazine’s December/January issue.

Here’s what the 44-year-old actress, director, and humanitarian had to share with the mag…

On finding a true self: “The part of us that is free, wild, open, curious can get shut down by life. By pain or by harm. My children know my true self, and they have helped me to find it again and to embrace it. They have been through a lot. I learn from their strength. As parents, we encourage our kids to embrace all that they are, and all that they know in their hearts to be right, and they look back at us and want the same for us.”

On how she handles being misunderstood: “I have a tattoo, ‘A prayer for the wild at heart kept in cages.’ I got it when I was 20. I was with my mom one evening, and I was feeling lost. I was restless—always. I still am. We were driving to dinner, and she talked about spending time with Tennessee Williams and how much she loved his words. She told me he wrote that, about the wild at heart. We drove to a tattoo parlor, and I got it inked on my left arm. What she did for me that night was to remind me that the wild within me is alright and a part of me.”

On her desire to live outside of the USA, but she can’t because of where Brad Pitt lives: I would love to live abroad and will do so as soon as my children are 18. Right now I’m having to base where their father chooses to live.”

FYI: Angelina is wearing Oscar de la Renta on the cover.

For more from Angelina, visit HarpersBazaar.com.