Hollywood’s beauty icon and Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie turns 50 today. However, mostly known for her bold portrayals of a femme fatale — and just a beauty icon — many probably have missed the fact that Jolie went to incredible lengths, quite literally, to ensure the authenticity of her roles.
Take the set of Salt (2010), for instance. When the crew suggested filming a dangerous building-edge stunt with green screen, Jolie refused. She believed it would look fake — and insisted on doing it herself, on location. "If the character is risking her life, I should feel that" she reportedly told the director. That commitment nearly turned tragic when she hit her head mid-scene and had to be rushed to the hospital. She was back on set the next day.
Jolie also performed many of her own stunts in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), mastering bungee ballet, diving, and gun work. On Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), she engaged in hand-to-hand combat and wire work without a stunt double. And in Wanted (2008), she trained with weapons and did high-speed driving scenes herself.
As she hits this milestone birthday, Jolie’s legacy isn’t just one of glamour. It’s about grit, risk, and full-hearted devotion to every story she tells. And that’s what makes her unforgettable.
