Angelina Jolie Signals Plans to Leave Los Angeles, Says: “I Don’t Recognize My Country”

Angelina Jolie appears ready to close a major chapter of her life in Los Angeles.

The Oscar-winning actress, 50, has long hinted that she never intended to stay in Hollywood permanently. Now, with her custody arrangement with Brad Pitt nearing its final phase, sources say she may soon make a permanent move overseas.

Custody Changes Could Open the Door

Jolie and Pitt went through a lengthy and highly publicized divorce after separating in 2016. According to previous reports, Jolie remained based in Los Angeles largely due to custody agreements involving their six children.

That situation is set to change this summer. Twins Vivienne and Knox turn 18 on July 12, marking their legal adulthood. With all of her children either adults or close to it, Jolie may have more freedom to relocate internationally.

A source previously told People that the Eternals star “never wanted to live in L.A. full-time” but “didn’t have a choice because of the custody arrangement.”

Now, insiders say she is considering several locations abroad and “will be very happy when she’s able to leave Los Angeles.”

“I Don’t Recognize My Country”

While attending the San Sebastián Film Festival in Spain in September 2024, Jolie made headlines with a pointed remark about the state of the United States.

“I love my country, but at this time, I don’t recognize my country,” she said.

Jolie did not mention Donald Trump by name during that appearance, but she has previously criticized his policies. In 2017, she wrote an op-ed in The New York Times opposing his immigration ban, arguing that security measures should not unfairly target entire countries or religions.

At the film festival, she expanded on her worldview:

“My worldview is equal, united, and international. Anything anywhere that divides or limits personal expressions and freedoms from anyone, I think, is very dangerous.”

She added that the current global climate feels “very, very heavy.”

A Deep Connection to Cambodia

If Jolie does leave Los Angeles, Cambodia could become one of her primary bases.

The Southeast Asian country holds deep personal meaning for her. In 2002, she adopted her first son, Maddox, from Cambodia. She has often spoken about how the country changed her life.

In an interview with Vogue India, Jolie said Cambodia made her more aware of refugee issues and inspired her humanitarian work with the UNHCR.

“Above all, it made me a mom,” she said.

She once recalled feeling a strong sense that her son was there before she even met him. Months later, she adopted Maddox from an orphanage.

Jolie later adopted Zahara and Pax during her relationship with Pitt. The former couple also share three biological children: Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox.

Adoption Was Always Part of Her Plan

Jolie has consistently said her decision to adopt was not about image or publicity.

In a 2008 interview with Vanity Fair, she explained that she always wanted to adopt because she knew there were children without parents.

“It’s not a humanitarian thing,” she said at the time. “It’s a gift. We’re all lucky to have each other.”

She has also spoken about wanting to give her children the kind of childhood she wished she had — one filled with awareness, compassion, and global understanding.

An International Future

Jolie has made it clear she plans to spend significant time abroad in the coming years.

“I’ll spend a lot of time in Cambodia,” she said in a 2024 interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I’ll spend time visiting my family members wherever they may be in the world.”

For someone who has always described herself as internationally minded, a move away from Los Angeles may feel less like an escape — and more like a return to the life she always envisioned.

As her children step into adulthood, Jolie appears ready to do the same with a new chapter — one that may take her far beyond Hollywood.