Speaking to TIME France, the Oscar-winning actress said her decision comes from a place of solidarity with other women. “I share these scars with many women I love,” Jolie said. “And I'm always moved when I see other women share theirs.”
Jolie, now 50, underwent a double mastectomy in 2013 after learning she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, which greatly increased her risk of developing breast cancer. At the time, doctors told her her risk was as high as 87 percent. After surgery, that risk dropped to under 5 percent.
In her famous 2013 New York Times op-ed titled “My Medical Choice,” Jolie explained that the decision was difficult but one she has never regretted. “I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer,” she wrote.
The actress said she chose to show her scars now because the TIME France interview focuses on breast health, prevention, and education. “I wanted to join them,” she said, referring to other women who openly share their experiences.
Jolie’s commitment to awareness is deeply personal. Her mother, actress Marcheline Bertrand, died in 2007 at the age of 56 after battling cancer for years. In 2015, Jolie also had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to reduce her risk of ovarian cancer.
In the new interview, Jolie strongly advocated for wider access to genetic testing. She said BRCA screenings should be available and affordable for women with clear risk factors or a strong family history. “Every woman should always be able to determine her own healthcare journey and have the information she needs to make informed choices,” she said. Jolie added that access to screening and care should not depend on money or where someone lives.
Jolie also spoke about her upcoming film Couture, directed by French filmmaker Alice Winocour and set for release in France in February 2026. In the film, Jolie plays Maxine Walker, an American filmmaker diagnosed with breast cancer.
Calling the project “very personal,” Jolie praised Winocour for her sensitive and life-affirming approach. “Too often, films about women’s struggles — especially cancer — focus only on sadness and endings,” she said. “This film shows life.”
Jolie shared a memory of her mother, recalling how she once wished people would talk about something other than her illness. “She felt as though the illness was becoming her entire identity,” Jolie said.
That message is central to Couture. “Hardships, illnesses, and pain are part of our existence,” Jolie said. “But what matters is how we face them.”
Through both her personal story and her work, Jolie continues to encourage openness, informed choices, and compassion — reminding women everywhere that they are more than their scars or their diagnoses.
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