Angelina Jolie: ‘It’s really funny when people say you’d be obvious for a great villain’

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YES. I’m ready for the Jolie Renaissance. I’m ready for 2014 to be The Year of Jolie. Angelina Jolie has been away for too long – she hasn’t been in front of the camera since 2010’s The Tourist. She hasn’t promoted a project since In the Land of Blood and Honey in 2011. And this year, we’ll be getting two giant projects from Angelina. First, we get Maleficent (this summer) then we get Unbroken (Christmas). As I keep saying, it’s a good time to be a Brangeloonie.

So, Angelina – in character as Maleficent – covers the new issue of Entertainment Weekly. YES. Horn Realness, baby. Here’s a preview of the cover story:

When someone says: You would be perfect to play one of the cruelest fantasy villains of all time — is that a compliment or an insult?

In the case of Disney’s Maleficent (out May 30), the whole world pretty much agreed Angelina Jolie should play the black-horned bad-girl.

“It is really funny when people say you’d be obvious for a great villain,” she says with a laugh (not a cackle).

In this week’s issue of Entertainment Weekly, the actress gives her first in-depth interview about Disney’s revisionist take on Sleeping Beauty, which retells the classic folk tale from the wicked point-of-view.

“The exercise wasn’t how can we have fun with a villain?” Jolie says. “It was: What turns people evil and vile and aggressive and cruel? What could have possibly happened to her?”

In the wide-ranging conversation with EW’s Anthony Breznican, Jolie also discusses Unbroken, the true-life tale of World War II heroism that she directed and is currently editing, and addresses the cancer worries that led her to undergo a preventative double mastectomy last year — penning a New York Times op-ed afterward about the experience, hoping to inspire and encourage others facing such a choice.

“Wherever I go, usually I run into women and we talk about health issues, women’s issues, breast cancer, ovarian cancer. I’ve talked to men about their daughters’ and wives’ health. It makes me feel closer to other people who deal with the same things and have either lost their parents or are considering surgeries or wondering about their children,” she says. “I was very, very moved by all the support and kindness from so many people.”

[From EW]

“The exercise wasn’t how can we have fun with a villain? It was: What turns people evil and vile and aggressive and cruel? What could have possibly happened to her?” Crap. I’m not interested in seeing Maleficent’s motives! I just want to see her cackle and destroy people. I want to see her scare the crap out of millions of children, just like the cartoon villainess did (and still does). Why does every villain need a backstory? Why can’t some people just be deliciously awful?

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Photos courtesy of WENN, cover courtesy of EW.

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80 Responses to “Angelina Jolie: ‘It’s really funny when people say you’d be obvious for a great villain’”

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  1. Jaderu says:

    Slay them all Angie.

    I have a feeling “Unbroken” will leave me in a whimpering puddle on the floor. Can’t wait though.

    • smith says:

      Nah I WANT the back story. Why so evil?? That was one of the (only) good things about “Oz the Great and Powerful.” They gave you a good story as to why the Witch of the West went off the deep end … and you kind of saw where she was coming from.

      Nothing happens in a vacuum.

      • I like backstories too–for years we just had villains that were evil–my favorite villain is Claude Frollo. While I know *why* he acts the way he does from the book, it might not be as apparent in the film…..especially to a child. I just thought he was scary when I was a kid.

      • Eva says:

        Exactly everyone is bad for a reason, even serial killers had a trigger that started them off being evil.

      • TC says:

        I’m totally down for a back story. Bring it!

      • Cecilia says:

        Eva says: Exactly everyone is bad for a reason, even serial killers had a trigger that started them off being evil.

        Have you ever seen the movie The Bad Seed? Do you think it’s possible that some people are born bad (bad seeds)? The bad seed is just wired that way — an inherent trait. Your comment has me pondering all over again.

      • Tiffany :) says:

        Same reason I love Hedda Gabbler. Her crazy made sense.

      • Camille (The Original) says:

        Agree. I like a good back story too.

        Can’t wait to see this film. It’s the only one I plan to go to the movies to see this year (usually I wait for the DVD to come out to see films).

      • NeoCleo says:

        With you on this one too. She can still cackle and destroy people for us at the same time we see why someone so beautiful went so rotten.

      • moot says:

        Cecilia says:
        “Have you ever seen the movie The Bad Seed? Do you think it’s possible that some people are born bad (bad seeds)? The bad seed is just wired that way — an inherent trait. Your comment has me pondering all over again.”

        Some people are born antisocial (lacking empathy), and when there are repeated stresses during childhood, that antisocialness can develop into full on psychopathy. Like all human behaviour, there is a spectrum where what is “in your nature” puts you somewhere on the spectrum, but how you learn to deal with it also moves you closer to this end or further toward the outside end. Depending on how antisocial you are when you’re born, it is possible to learn to use that nature in a more productive way—there are many successful people who could be diagnosed within the spectrum. Indeed, there are many people who have written about what it’s like to be antisocial-psychopathic and learn to play nice with others.

        I know someone who was born “a bad seed” and it was obvious from the get-go that, as a child, he didn’t understand limits, didn’t have empathy, and was highly prone to violent outbursts. He’s now an adult who’s been in and out of prison on multiple convictions, some very violent offenses—but I’ve seen him during his mellow periods and I know he’s not “evil” in the malicious way. He simply cannot control his response to certain stimuli.

        Do I think someone can be born along the spectrum who relishes their ability to manipulate or hurt people and never tries to check it? Sure. But these people are deluding themselves, too, about their own power. They’re not really as clever as they think; they’re just unable to care more about the person they’re hurting than stoking their own ego.

        Human psychology is sooo so fascinating.

      • Janet says:

        @Cecilia: Is it possible some people are born bad? Absolutely. They’re called sociopaths and they are born without the ability to develop a conscience or any feelings of empathy toward another person. In the extreme cases they may be psychopathic mass murderers or serial killers but mostly they are the garden variety con artists one meets up with every day. And there is no way to treat them because as far as they are concerned, there is nothing to treat. They are quite satisfied with themselves as they are and if anyone else has a problem with it, too bad for them. The only way to deal with these people is to avoid them like the plague.

        “The Bad Seed” was an excellent book that was turned into a dreadful movie, IMO. Another good book about a sociopathic child was “We Need to Talk About Kevin”.

      • Aurie says:

        I think everyone is going to end up sorely disappointed, especially Kaiser.

        The 2014 movie is NOT even a loose retelling of the 1959 animated from Maleficent’s point of view but rather the TRUE story of what really happened.

        The 1959 movie is a lie told by the humans to cover their evil actions (like trying to take over the moors over which Maleficent presides, as is in the official press release).

        In the last 1-2 minutes of the movie there is a joke between two characters (not saying whom) that references the 1959 movie.

        And Maleficent is never actually “evil” but more morally ambiguous. In one scene with her father, the devil, he tells her “prepare to be hated” and she replies back “It never bothered me anyway.”

      • Cecilia says:

        Thank you moot & Janet for your insight.

      • Lauraq says:

        My brother was raised exactly like my sister and myself, but from childhood he has tortured and killed animals, manipulated others, done horrible things to women, driven drunk, etc. And no matter how much trouble he gets into or how many chances he gets to change, he never wavers from his path. Seems like some people really do just love cruelty.

  2. TheCountess says:

    Seems odd she’d be getting a cover interview for the film three months before it’s release.

    • Candy Love says:

      Katie Holmes is on the cover of Elle with no movie to promote now that is odd.

      • V4Real says:

        Yeah but Elle is a fashion mag who puts celebs on the cover all the time even if they are not promoting anything. Entertainmnent Weekly usually promotes things that are happening in present tense or in the upcoming few weeks,, not months away.

        I guess they figured if they had a chance to get an interview with Angie while wait as she might not be available later on down the road.

        BTW I don’t think AJ looks scary, I find it quite beautiful. Now Lil Kim’s face, that was scary. She should play Maleficient. All they would have needed to do was add the horns.

        http://www.celebitchy.com/349876/lil_kim_39_debuts_her_noticeable_baby_bump_at_nyfw_im_so_excited/

      • Yeah, maybe she couldn’t do it when THEY wanted it–or maybe they’re planning on doing another cover shortly before the movie comes out?

      • The Original G says:

        It’s Disney blockbuster. They’re going to own the press on this.

      • Val says:

        Yeah I don’t really get why Katie Holmes has an ELLE cover, I couldn’t think of anything more uninteresting. I’d rather see Amber Heard on it than her. (sorry)

    • TC says:

      March is usually the time when promotion for the first wave of big summer blockbusters rollout.

      And at least the cover story is actually about her upcoming film work and not about a supposed wedding date and dress.

    • lunchcoma says:

      We need something to talk about post-Oscars!

    • Samantha25 says:

      When it comes to Angelina and Brad, people get so judgemental. Especially since the criticism is usually for something normal. A lot of movies get covers months in advance. 50 Shades had a cover before they started shooting. Nobody complained then. Early covers usually happen for blockbuster and buzzworthy movies.

      • I’m also thinking that they had her do a cover right after the Oscars, because their profile would be extremely high i.e. Brad’s nominated (let alone if he won)…..so people might be more interested to buy the magazine…..free exposure for them.

      • Maya says:

        @Samantha25: spot on. Many people are so judgemental and hypocritical when it comes to the JPs.

        Many movies’s promotions starts 3 months before the movie comes out – the whole point is to make people watch it when it premiers. Whats the point of promoting something after it has premiered?

  3. SonjaMarmeladova says:

    I really like her. I don’t like them together, but I relly like her. She always seemed a bit too good for Brad.

  4. pam says:

    Aw…look at Vivienne…

    • SonjaMarmeladova says:

      Aaaw, look at nepotism from an early age.

      • Dani2 says:

        LOL @ this comment
        In the full interview, she said that her daughter played the role out of necessity, the other kids they’d chosen ran away from her but little Viv knew that it was really just her mama. Now that’s sweet 🙂

      • Kim1 says:

        Nepotism
        Yeah like when Meryl’s daughter Mamie played her daughter in “Heartburn” or the dozens of other actors who allowed their kids to appear in their films
        Nepotism

      • lunchcoma says:

        I find it annoying when celebrities push tweens who actively want entertainment careers in our faces, but for a role like this, I think it’s fairly sensible to use one of the actor’s children. It’s unlikely that Vivienne is going to become a breakout star because of this role, and I suspect it’s less stressful for everyone involved to use a child who’s probably already on set and who knows Angelina.

      • The Original Mia says:

        Or Jeremy Renner’s newborn and her mother in American Hustle.

      • TC says:

        According to Angie, her kids were the only ones who weren’t crying in fear when they saw her in full make-up. They knew it was mommy. This is the reason Vivy, Pax and Zahara are in the film.

      • The Original G says:

        Oh. Lighten up.

      • Virgilia Coriolanus says:

        It’s not like they’re Jada and Will Smith–pushing their kids into the spotlight, producing films for their kids to star in…..I highly doubt Vivienne would have any lines….how old is she? 5,6??

      • kylew says:

        She was 3 going on 4 when this was filmed.

  5. Megan says:

    I took the back story comment to be more about her acting process then what we will see at least I hope so. I imagine to play her and not give a cartoon performance she’d have to come up with a back story- motivation.

    That being said I can’t wait for this movie!!! Sleeping Beauty is my favorite Disney movie.

    • Emma - the JP Lover says:

      Back story in a film is usually about the character, not the actor/actress.

      • Megan says:

        Thanks! I know that as I said I took the comment about her trying to find a back story to play it right. The previews make me think it won’t be about the characters back story.

        I also said I knew I could be wrong, it was just how I took her comment.

      • Aurie says:

        Maleficent’s backstory is…..interesting to say the least. I don’t know if fans of the 1959 movie will like Linda Woolverton’s take on it. But yes the movie gives plenty of reason as to why Maleficent turns the way she does and as the studio guy said at the D23 conference, you will definitely find yourself cheering for Maleficent over King Stefan and the humans.

  6. Dani2 says:

    I am so beyond ready to see her in this movie.

  7. TC says:

    Little Vivy looks so adorable. I’m really looking forward to this. I like that Angie has two very different projects coming out this year. Accomplished and gifted indeed.

  8. bns says:

    Do people still see her that way, though?

  9. lower-case deb says:

    still not all that sold with Maleficent She-has-a-heart-too. her evilness is embedded even in her name. what parent names their kid “malevolent” (a desire to do evil)…

    anyway, Maleficent has parents? or kinda like “created” like Adam and Eve? no belly button?

    • SonjaMarmeladova says:

      Off topic, but that reminded me of another name. The name “Morana” is very common here, and she was the Slavic godess of winter and death. Kids were named after her so that she wouldn’t take them. And the name lasted.

      • yennefer says:

        @Sonja
        Yeah, it’s a universal name in Slavic countries – in Poland it’s spelled Marzanna, but it has the same origin. Also we have a custom – we drown Marzanna when spring is about to come, as a symbol of passing winter.

    • Aurie says:

      Maleficent’s father is the Devil and her mother died in childbirth, leaving her only family member as Queen Ulla, the queen of the fairy moors who cursed Maleficent with her horns and who named her Maleficent, referencing the fact that her father is the devil.

  10. Paige says:

    Vivienne is so precious. Great interview.

  11. cheesecracker says:

    If Maleficent’s backstory is that she had her heart broken by a man and became evil because of it, I am going to scream.

    • lower-case deb says:

      according to this synopsis, there’s an element of betrayal in it.

      “A beautiful, pure-hearted young woman with stunning black wings, Maleficent has an idyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army of humans threatens the harmony of the land. Maleficent rises to be the land’s fiercest protector, but she ultimately suffers a ruthless betrayal – an act that begins to turn her pure heart to stone. Bent on revenge, Maleficent faces an epic battle with the king of the humans and, as a result, places a curse upon his newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Maleficent realizes that Aurora holds the key to peace in the kingdom – and to Maleficent’s true happiness as well.”
      http://www.examiner.com/list/the-true-story-of-disney-s-evil-maleficent

      Not sure what kind of betrayal, hopefully not the brokenlove kind.

      • What I got from that was that the king of the humans (Aurora’s father) used her powers to help protect his people–who knows, Maleficent could’ve been friendly with them and the other fairies–but as soon as he didn’t need her help any more he turned on her.

      • Maya says:

        POTENTIAL SPOILER COMING UP:

        I read somewhere that Maleficent is the Queen’s (Aurora’s mother) niece and the King and the Queen could have betrayed Maleficent. If you see the trailers – the Queen is never shown and Miranda Richardson is a big actress to not to be shown.

      • Aurie says:

        SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER. DO NOT READ.

        Yes Maleficent was betrayed by King Stefan. He is the half human half fairy son of King Kinloch, the husband of fairy Queen Ulla.

        Maleficent saved him from ridicule when they were younger and humiliated Queen Ulla in the process, causing Queen Ulla to curse Maleficent with the horns. And it’s why they fall in love.

        King Henry of the human kingdom promises his daughter, princess Leila, to Stefan in marriage if he will kill Maleficent, the ruling queen of the fairy moors (after Queen Ulla dies).

        Instead he rips off her stunning black wings (per the google release of the movie) using iron, which fairies are weak against.

        This is the huge betrayal and what motivates her to revenge against Stefan.

    • antisocial says:

      I choked on cheesecracker’s comment LOL (btw your name is especially appropriate here 🙂
      I love you for thinking it and saying it outright – I absolutely couldn’t agree more!!!

  12. yennefer says:

    Remember that rumor about Ralph Fiennes and Angie’s S&M sessions? I’m thinking about this right now. Sweaty, dominant Voldemort with leather whip in his hand tying obedient Maleficient up, without knowing there’s a naughty revenge plan going in her head… Because Horns of Doom can’t be tamed.

    Oooh my, there’s a movie I’d like to see.

    • Hahaha–I remember that! That was actually the first piece of gossip I read about Ralph Fiennes. I remember it especially because it came before or after a post about Ralph and my husband Liam on the beach, and the writer (Kaiser, maybe) was talking about how she liked their bromance, after Natasha’s death.

      I wish those rumors were true–who knows? Angelina and Ralph ain’t sayin’ yea or nay.

      • yennefer says:

        Yeah, their bromance is so adorable – well, maybe not exactly on Leo&Jonah level… 😀
        Hey, and we could go on double dates – yours ending with tender, marital sex and mine and Ralph’s ending up raw with role-playing. How about that?

      • I’ll meet you at the beach!!!! 🙂 Bring the wine.

      • Virgilia Coriolanus says:

        And like Liam’s marital sex is tender—at least not all of the time 🙂
        The man has Irish Thunder in his pants, for God’s sake!

  13. Mandy says:

    I wonder if little Vivienne was scared of her mom dressed in that get-up??? I know I would have been!

    • Kim1 says:

      No
      That’s why she got the role,the other little girs were terrified of AJ according to one of the producers.

    • On my Grandma’s 50th birthday, my grandpa got her a black and purple frosted cake, dressed up in a black robe and a scream mask—it was in the middle of the day and he brought the cake to her–well my little brother FREAKED OUT. Even after my grandpa took the mask off to show him that it was him, and then put it back on. The same thing happened with this same brother, when one of my little cousins around his age, put a black ski mask on (because it’s freezing here ALL THE TIME) to go outside, but then he came back inside to say goodbye to my brother, and my brother started crying and hid behind my mom 🙂
      I don’t think Angelina or the movie looks scary, but I’m an adult–so I’ll be curious to see how kids react to this movie.

  14. Eleonor says:

    This is why Voldemort is one of my favourite villain ever: he had a crappy childhood but he didn’t have a turning point, he was an a-hole even as a kid, he didn’t chose to be evil. He was evil to start with until the very end.
    I don’t want to know why Maleficient turned to the “dark side”, I want to see her kick the ass.

    • moot says:

      Weeeellll, it can be argued that Voldemort’s crappy childhood is what led to him being really really evil instead of just a garden variety nasty antisocial.

      • Plus he had MAGIC. If he hadn’t been magical, he probably would’ve been just another one of your good looking, arrogant politicians….except he might’ve become the President and then tried to overthrow the government and be president for life….

  15. Maggie says:

    I normally don’t like to comment on children but that little girl looks adorable.

  16. tmbg says:

    Wow, it’s like they gave her the Gaga attention with the horn-like cheekbones, but she makes the horns look great. I may have to get the magazine just for the cover. She’s gorgeous!

  17. serena says:

    To answer Kaiser: We need a backstory because otherwise it won’t be a ‘good story’, it’ll just be focused on Aurora (and as much as I like Elle Fanning I don’t want that).

    • moot says:

      Exactly! When you name the movie after Maleficent, you have to give the character an arc if it’s going to be about her. Otherwise, just call it Aurora and Maleficent can be as one-dimensional as you like.

  18. Hubbahun says:

    People get judges by their actions, Angie, good and bad. Can we stopped pretending she’s above all the crap she’s pulled? She’s just like the rest of us, flawed, vulnerable to bad choices and yes, capable of great acts of humanity. I don’t care for her but I’ll give her props for the good things she’s done.

  19. kay says:

    @maggie,I know right!I feel bad saying this because I normally don’t comment on people’s kids,but she looks really beautiful,and she’s looking at maleficent like she pity’s her.

    I really can’t wait for this movie.

  20. Andrea1 says:

    She looks breath taking.. Maleficent looks magnificent.. I can’t wait

  21. Virgilia Coriolanus says:

    As a sort of OT:
    My mom saw Angelina’s Oscar dress yesterday and said she didn’t need to be wearing that, and said that it looked like something Betty White should be wearing. I lol’d HARD.

    Also, I showed her the video of Angelina and Sidney Poitier presenting together (because my mom LOVES Sidney Poitier–she says he should’ve been my daddy), and she told me that Angelina better ‘get off her man’…hahaha..

  22. Tiffany says:

    Man, those cheekbones can cut a bitch.

  23. Maritza says:

    Stunning photos and the third one she looks like Saint Angelina!