Angelina Jolie candidly reveals why she is showing off her mastectomy scars for the first time

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Angelina Jolie has decided to publicly show her mastectomy scars for the first time.

Actress Maria, age 50, recently explained in an interview with TIME France why she decided to share photos of her double mastectomy, a preventative surgery she had over ten years ago.

She said she connects with many women who have similar experiences, and it’s always meaningful to her when she sees them openly share those experiences.

I was eager to participate because TIME France was planning to share important information about breast health, including how to prevent breast cancer and what people should know about the disease.

The Academy Award-winning actress posed for the cover photo wearing a black sweater with a low neckline, partially covering one breast with her hand.

The upcoming issue of TIME France, released on December 18th, will feature photos of Angelina Jolie’s scars from her double mastectomy, alongside her full interview.

In May 2013, Angelina Jolie had a preventative double mastectomy and subsequent reconstructive surgery after learning she carried a gene that significantly raised her risk of developing breast cancer.

I’ve been following her story for ages, and it just breaks my heart. They discovered she had a mutation in her BRCA1 gene, and honestly, the numbers are terrifying. Doctors said she had an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer, and a 50 percent chance of ovarian cancer. It’s just… unbelievable, and I’m so worried about her.

In March 2015, she proactively had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to reduce her risk of ovarian cancer.

The director of Unbroken experienced the loss of her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who died from cancer in 2007 at the age of 56. Sadly, her grandmother and aunt also succumbed to the disease.

In her new interview, Jolie called for making BRCA screenings available to every woman. 

Women deserve to be in control of their healthcare and have the resources to make smart decisions. This includes ensuring genetic testing and screenings are readily available and reasonably priced, especially for those with known risk factors or a family history of related conditions.

‘When I shared my experience in 2013, it was to encourage informed choices,’ she added.

Honestly, this is SO important to me. I truly believe every woman deserves to make her own healthcare choices, period. It drives me crazy to think someone might not get the screening or care they need just because they don’t have enough money or live in the wrong place. It should be about them and their health, not their wallet or zip code. It just feels fundamentally wrong if they don’t have all the info and support to make the best decision for themselves.

In the upcoming movie Couture, directed by Alice Winocour, Angelina Jolie stars as Maxine Walker, an American filmmaker who receives a breast cancer diagnosis.

Jolie described the movie, scheduled for release in France in February 2026, as a deeply meaningful and personal story.

She also shared her long-standing admiration for Alice’s work, particularly her original way of addressing difficult health topics, and commended her ability to handle sensitive subjects with grace and care.

Jolie pointed out that movies focusing on women’s hardships, particularly those involving cancer, frequently emphasize loss and grief, and don’t often show the beauty and continuation of life.

She continued, explaining that while difficulties, sickness, and suffering are inevitable in life, our reaction to them is what truly counts.

The actress shared that her mother battled an illness for a long time. One evening, when someone asked about her chemotherapy treatment, she got upset and said she’d rather discuss something different. She explained that she felt defined by her sickness, and it was taking over who she was.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always drawn to stories that truly reflect life, and this film absolutely delivers. It’s not just about someone facing illness; it’s about the beauty and complexity of living. That radiant, hopeful perspective is what really grabbed me, and ultimately inspired me to take on the role.

In 2015, Jolie shared about her decision to remove her ovaries due to a second health scare.

Angelina Jolie Pitt wrote a detailed article for The New York Times explaining why she chose to have surgery. The piece, titled ‘Angelina Jolie Pitt: Diary Of A Surgery,’ shares her personal story.

I’ve been following Jolie for ages, and when I heard she was considering preventative surgery – removing her ovaries and Fallopian tubes – it broke my heart, but I admired her strength so much. Apparently, she’d been thinking about it for a while, but then her doctor called with some news, and suddenly it wasn’t just something she was considering anymore, it was urgent. It was terrifying, but also incredibly brave of her to share it.

Jolie’s blood test showed some unusual results related to a protein called CA-125, which is often monitored in cases of ovarian cancer. Her doctor recommended she consult with her surgeon, the same one who cared for her mother.

‘I went through what I imagine thousands of other women have felt,’ she wrote.

I kept reminding myself to remain calm and resilient, and that I had every reason to believe I’d live a long life, watching my children grow and eventually meeting my grandchildren.

I was so relieved to hear her explain why she decided to keep her uterus – it’s because there’s absolutely no history of uterine cancer in her family, and that felt like a really good reason to me.

Jolie has often talked about the deep sadness she felt after her mother passed away. This pain motivated her to undergo a preventative double mastectomy, hoping to spare her children the same heartbreak.

Less than two weeks after Angelina Jolie publicly shared her decision to have a mastectomy, her aunt, Debbie Martin, passed away from breast cancer at the age of 61.

After having her ovaries removed, Jolie began hormone therapy and had a device placed in her uterus to help manage the effects.

Even with hormone therapy, I’ve entered menopause, which means I can no longer have children and my body will change. I’m feeling peaceful about this, not because I’m particularly strong, but because it’s a natural part of life and there’s no need to be afraid.

‘I know my children will never have to say, “Mom died of ovarian cancer,”‘ she added. 

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have six children together. They share three biological children – Shiloh, 19, and 17-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne – and three adopted children: Maddox, 24, Zahara, 20, and Pax.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie started dating in the early 2000s and got married in 2014 at their French castle.

By 2016, their relationship had ended very publicly and dramatically, following a private plane incident where a physical fight reportedly took place.

His divorce wasn’t settled until late 2024, and he still hasn’t repaired his relationship with his six children.

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2025-12-16 10:20