Angelina Jolie Reveals Health Battle

Angelina Jolie is opening up about her life since calling it quits with Brad Pitt and the impact that the stressful situation had on her health.

The 42-year-old actress is featured on the cover of Vanity Fair this month, and spoke out during the interview about the trials and tribulations she faced in the past year.

The Maleficent star developed hypertension and Bell’s palsy following her split with Pitt. She began noticing extra gray hairs and dry skin, and believes that it could have been caused by the “difficult” year she has had since filing for divorce on Sept. 20, 2016.

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“I can’t tell if it’s menopause or if it’s just been the year I’ve had,” she said. “Sometimes women in families put themselves last until it manifests itself in their own health.”

Jolie has tried to tackle her health issues in stride to be a strong figure for her family.

“I actually feel like more of a woman because I’m being smart about my choices, and I’m putting my family first, and I’m in charge of my life and my health. I think that’s what makes a woman complete,” she said.

“I’ve been trying for nine months to be really good at just being a homemaker and picking up dog poop and cleaning dishes and reading bedtime stories. And I’m getting better at all three.”

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In the summer of 2016, Jolie says that “things got bad” with Pitt while she was working on post-production for her film, First They Killed My Father.

She then clarified by saying, “I don’t want to use that word…Things became ‘difficult.’”

“[Our lifestyle] was not in any way a negative. That was not the problem. That is and will remain one of the wonderful opportunities we are able to give our children…They’re six very strong-minded, thoughtful, worldly individuals. I’m very proud of them.”

As for her kids, Jolie says they have been “very brave…in times they needed to be.”

“We’re all just healing from the events that led to the filing…They’re not healing from the divorce. They’re healing from some…from life, from things in life.”

Currently, Jolie and her six children are settling into their new $25 million Los Angeles mansion.

“It’s just been the hardest time, and we’re just kind of coming up for air. [This house] is a big jump forward for us, and we’re all trying to do our best to heal as our family.”

Photo Credit: Getty / Chris Jackson