Feb. 8 (UPI) — Angelina Jolie encourages her daughters to “fight” for women’s rights around the globe.
The 42-year-old actress said in the March issue of Elle that she hopes 13-year-old Zahara, 11-year-old Shiloh and 9-year-old Vivienne will share her love of service and dedication to humanitarian work.
“I tell my daughters, ‘What sets you apart is what you are willing to do for others. Anyone can put on a dress and makeup. It’s your mind that will define you,'” Jolie said.
“‘Find out who you are, what you think, and what you stand for. And fight for others to have those same freedoms. A life of service is worth living,'” she added.
Jolie was named a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2001, and has completed nearly 60 field missions for the agency. She said her patriotism goes “hand in hand” with her service.
“I’m very patriotic,” the star said. “For me, it goes hand in hand with being proud of what America stands for. For instance, I’m the only person in my house who was born in America.”
“It’s only because we are a country based on people of different backgrounds and faiths coming together that I can have this family,” she added. “My daughters have the freedoms they have because of being American. And we are at our best when we are fighting for others to have the same rights. Particularly other women.”
Jolie shares Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne and sons Maddox, Pax and Knox with ex-husband Brad Pitt. She previously told People she feels especially obligated to guide her children through their “formative years.”
“We all have our difficult times, but as a mother you also have a responsibility first and foremost towards the kids. They are going through their formative years and everything else comes second to that,” the actress said in September.
“Everything will be around the children,” she added. “I haven’t worked for over a year now because they needed me home. Everything was just stopped. I’m really sitting and talking with them because everything affects them.”
