The Enduring Legacy of Marcheline Bertrand: Angelina Jolie’s Mother, Humanitarian, and Inspiration

TM Gias Kamal
3 min readJan 13, 2024

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Angelina Jolie, the captivating Hollywood star and humanitarian, has enchanted audiences with her talent and charm on the silver screen for many years. However, her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, played a profound role in her life.

Marcheline Bertrand, who was born in 1950, was also an actress and appeared in films such as “Lookin’ to Get Out” and “The Man Who Loved Women.” However, her path took a different direction when she married fellow actor Jon Voight in 1971. They had two children together: James Haven in 1973 and Angelina in 1975.

After divorcing Jon in 1976, Marcheline focused on nurturing her children, especially Angelina, who was only one year old at the time. Despite facing financial difficulties, Marcheline instilled in her children a deep love for the arts, humanitarianism, and resilience in the face of challenges.

Angelina has always spoken fondly of her mother, considering her to be a graceful and heroic figure. Marcheline also inspired Angelina’s passion for humanitarian work by exposing her to the harsh realities of poverty and suffering through trips to Cambodia and other countries. These early experiences laid the foundation for Angelina’s future commitment to global causes.

Marcheline was a strong supporter of Angelina’s acting dreams, taking her to acting classes and helping her pursue her goals. Despite stepping back from her own acting career to focus on being a mother, Marcheline played a crucial role in shaping Angelina’s journey to fame.

Marcheline remained fiercely dedicated to her children throughout her life, celebrating their achievements and offering unwavering support during difficult times. She fought against ovarian and breast cancer for ten years, a battle that Angelina has openly discussed, raising awareness about the importance of early detection and prevention.

Tragically, Marcheline passed away in 2007 at the age of 56. Her absence created a deep void in Angelina’s life, but her legacy continues to be a source of inspiration. Angelina carries her mother’s spirit in her own humanitarian work, advocating for refugees, women’s rights, and conservation efforts.

Not only is Marcheline Bertrand’s story about a Hollywood star’s mother, but it’s also about a woman who overcame personal adversity to devote her life to raising strong, kind people who would change the world. Her strength, tenacity, and unwavering love are still felt through Angelina, and they are an inspiration to mothers and daughters everywhere.

Here are some additional points you can consider including in your article:

Humanitarian work by Marcheline: She is a co-founder of the All Tribes Foundation, which helps Native American tribes maintain their cultural and economic traditions.

Marcheline’s parenting style influenced Angelina: Angelina has discussed how her mother’s parenting style influenced the way she raised her own kids.

Marcheline’s legacy: Talk about how Marcheline’s influence is still felt through Angelina’s work and the lives of her children. Tributes to Marcheline: Share quotes that speak to her character and impact from Angelina and others who knew her.

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