Angelina Jolie has stated that she stepped back from directing to return to acting due to ‘a change in her family situation’.

After establishing herself as one of the most bankable box office stars in the early 2000s, she largely devoted the 2010s to directing, although she has now insisted that a continued pursuit of directing has become ‘impossible’.

The star made her directing debut in 2011’s In the Land of Blood and Honey, followed by 2014’s Unbroken, By the Sea in 2015 and First They Killed My Father in 2017.

While she did not specifically detail what the ‘change’ is, Angelina, has been engaged in a lengthy custody battle with ex-husband Brad Pitt since 2016, following their split after more than a decade together and over two years of marriage.

Changes are being made: Angelina Jolie has stated that she stepped back from directing to return to acting due to ‘a change in her family situation’

When asked about her shift towards acting in favor of directing, Angelina said the move was due to her family, but directing is still a passion for her.

She candidly told Entertainment Weekly: ‘I love directing, but I had a change in my family situation that’s not made it possible for me to direct for a few years.

‘I needed to just do shorter jobs and be home more, so I kind of went back to doing a few acting jobs. That’s really the truth of it.’

Angelina and Brad have been at war over their kids for five years, Brad striving for 50/50 custody with Angelina wanting full physical custody.

Family: Angelina spoke about how a ‘change in my family situation’ lead to her acting more than directing lately

They announced their split in 2016 and were legally divorced in 2019, but things are far from amicable between the pair as she continues to allege abuse.

She has six 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren, three of which – Maddox, 19, Pax, 17, and Zahara, 16 – were adopted, and three with Brad – Shiloh, 14 and twins Knox and Vivienne, 12.

As kids Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne, are minors, both Brad and Angelina would need to grant permission for them to testify but Maddox, Zahara and Pax are all over 18 so would be free to make statements.

The By the Sea filmmaker previously admitted she thinks she’s ‘lacking’ in the s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s to be a traditional stay-at-home parent.

Way back when: While she did not specifically detail what the ‘change’ is, Angelina, 45, has been engaged in a lengthy custody battle with ex-husband Brad Pitt since 2016, following their split after more than a decade together and over two years of marriage (pictured in 2015)

New movies: The actress actually has two live-action movies coming out this year – the first time that has happened for her since 2010, when she had Salt and The Tourist

She said in February: ‘I was never very good at sitting still. I feel like I’m lacking in all the s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s to be a traditional stay-at-home mom.

‘Even though I wanted to have many 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren and be a mom, I always imagined it kind of like Jane Goodall, traveling in the middle of the jungle somewhere. I didn’t imagine it in that true, traditional sense.’

The actress has two live-action movies coming out this year – the first time that has happened for her since 2010, when she had Salt and The Tourist.

Those Who Wish Me Dead debuts in theaters and on HBO Max on May 14, with her highly-anticipated debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Eternals arriving November 5.

Family situation: ‘I love directing, but I had a change in my family situation that’s not made it possible for me to direct for a few years,’ she said

Angelina’s new film First They Killed My Father also marks her return to stunt work, adding how much she admired writer-director (and former actor) Taylor Sheridan’s voice, which drew her to the film.

She said: ‘He has a unique voice when it comes to characters within America, which had not been a prior focus of my work. I wanted to be in this world with him.

She added that her experience as a director has also changed her approach as an actor as well.

Six kids: Angelina has six 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren, three of which – Maddox, Pax and Zahara – were adopted internationally, and three with Pitt – Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne

Angelina added: ‘In very technical terms, I’m more aware of what the director needs, and what other challenges they’re facing, and how many different pieces are moving…

‘Maybe when you’re younger and you’re having a huge day where you have to be cold and wet and emotional and crying, you’re thinking about those things…

‘Now you’ve directed and you’re older, and you realize that while you are going to be freezing and crying, there’s also pyrotechnics going on, or multiple other situations. It pulls you out of yourself’.

Approach: She added that her experience as a director has also changed her approach as an actor as well

Source: dailymail