Sophia Michaels
When two major Hollywood stars come together, their romance often garners more media attention than what either experienced while they were single. This was certainly true for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, especially considering their previous relationships: Jolie with Billy Bob Thornton and Pitt with Jennifer Aniston, a beloved actress known from “Friends”.
The couple, famously referred to as “Brangelina,” kept the tabloids busy with stories about their romance, engagement, adoption of children, and their wedding. Generally, when a celebrity couple marries, rumors of trouble begin to circulate from alleged insiders, hinting at potential issues. While many such claims are unfounded, in this case, the signs of trouble turned out to be accurate; their divorce became one of the most extended and contentious in Hollywood history, attracting even more media interest than when they were together. As of September 2024, their divorce was still not settled, leaving much to explore regarding how their relationship deteriorated. To delve deeper, continue reading about the journey of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s marriage.
Brad Pitt was still married to Jennifer Aniston when he grew close to Angelina Jolie
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s paths crossed during the making of the 2005 film “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” At that time, Jolie had recently ended her marriage to Billy Bob Thornton and was a single mother to her adopted son, Maddox. Pitt was still married to Jennifer Aniston, who was transitioning from television to film roles.
During filming, their relationship was strictly friendly at first. Jolie stated to Vogue that they both were not looking for love, as she was content as a single mother and respected Pitt’s marriage. However, they grew closer as filming progressed, eventually realizing their bond might be more significant than initially thought.
As their connection deepened, Jolie looked forward to their time on set, hinting at the beginning of something more meaningful as they neared the end of filming.
Brad Pitt separated from Jennifer Aniston in 2005
Filming for “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” began in January 2004 but took a break in April for Pitt to film “Oceans Twelve,” resuming in August. By December 2004, after a vacation in Anguilla, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston announced their separation. They specified in a joint statement that the split was not due to rumors circulating in the media but rather a decision made after thoughtful consideration.
In March 2005, Aniston filed for divorce, and shortly after, reports emerged of Pitt and Jolie vacationing together in Kenya, followed by sightings in London and Ethiopia. By the time Pitt’s divorce was finalized in October, it was assumed they were a couple, although they had not publicly confirmed their relationship yet.
Angelina Jolie adopted a second child, daughter Zahara
In the summer of 2005, Angelina Jolie, already a mother to adopted son Maddox, journeyed to Ethiopia and adopted another child, a baby girl named Zahara, who was just seven months old. In November 2005, during a trip to Tokyo for the promotion of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” Brad Pitt was seen carrying Zahara at the airport. Jolie shared in a 2023 interview with Vogue that motherhood was a lifelong dream for her. She stated, “I was 26 when I became a mother. My entire life changed. Having children saved me — and taught me to be in this world differently.”
Jolie’s circumstances when adopting Zahara contrasted with her earlier experience as she was now in a relationship with Pitt. Although the couple had not publicly acknowledged their relationship, it was clear by December 2005, when Pitt adopted both Maddox and Zahara, that they were family, as the children were given the last name Jolie-Pitt.
They welcomed their first biological child together, daughter Shiloh
In January 2006, the anticipation surrounding their family grew when Jolie confirmed she was expecting. “Yes, I’m pregnant,” she told a charity worker in the Dominican Republic, although she kept the father’s identity discreet. There was little doubt it was Pitt.
As parents of three children now, speculation about their marriage arose. However, Pitt made it clear they wouldn’t be tying the knot until marriage equality was recognized for all Americans. He expressed this in a 2006 Esquire interview, emphasizing that equality was an important issue for him and Jolie.
Angelina Jolie publicly discussed the origin of their relationship for the first time
By the end of 2006, it was widely recognized that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were a couple, yet questions lingered about the start of their relationship, particularly regarding Pitt’s previous marriage to Jennifer Aniston. Was there infidelity involved, or had the couple’s relationship already ended before Jolie came into the picture?
Jolie addressed the early days of their romance in a December 2006 Vogue interview. She shared how their friendship blossomed while working on their film together, enjoying various experiences that created a strong bond between them. “We just became kind of a pair,” she reflected on their close working relationship.
Eventually, as they became aware of their mutual attraction, they decided to wait until Pitt’s previous marriage was officially over before pursuing a romantic relationship. Jolie remarked, “And then life developed in a way where we could be together, where it felt like something we would do, we should do.”
She adopted son Pax and then welcomed twins
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In March 2007, Angelina Jolie added to her family by adopting a three-year-old boy named Pax Thien, who took on her last name. This decision stirred some attention as she was a single parent at the time, having adopted him from an orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The circumstances allowed for this adoption; Vietnamese laws at the time did not permit unmarried couples to adopt, which required Jolie to take on the process alone.
Just over a year later, in July 2008, she and Brad Pitt welcomed two more children, fraternal twins named Knox and Vivienne. They were born in Nice, in the South of France, and their obstetrician confirmed that both babies arrived safely through a cesarean section. “Angelina is in very good spirits,” reported Dr. Michel Sussmann, who attended the delivery.
