Angelina Jolie opens up about divorce with Brad Pitt: 'We will always be a family'
Angelina Jolie has spoken publicly for the first time about her divorce from Brad Pitt, saying they "will always be a family".
The actress and director said splitting from Pitt after two years of marriage had been a "very difficult time" for her.
Speaking to the BBC, the 41-year-old actress said: "It was a very difficult time and we're a family. And we will always be a family.
"And we will get through this time and hopefully be a stronger family for it."
Asked how she was coping, Jolie said: "Many, many people find themselves in this situation.
"My whole family - we've all being through a difficult time.
"My focus is my children, our children, and my focus is finding this way through and as I said we are and forever will be a family and so that is my, that is how I am coping.
"I am coping with finding a way through to make sure that this somehow makes us stronger and closer."
Asked what she wants to do when she gets up in the morning, the actress said with a smile: "Get through the day, it's been a difficult few months."
In quotes | Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Jolie was speaking before the premiere of the film First They Killed My Father, which she directed and is about the Cambodian genocide.
She said that she hopes the film will help educate the world about the brutality of the Khmer Rouge and shed a light on the plight of young people in war zones today.
First They Killed My Father is based on author and human rights activist Loung Ung's account of her survival as a child under the 1975-79 communist Khmer Rouge regime, believed to be responsible for the deaths of 1.7 million Cambodians from starvation, disease and execution.
Jolie has had an affinity for Cambodia since she began goodwill work for the UN's refugee agency in 2001, and her eldest son, Maddox, 15, was adopted from the country. She also has established a foundation to promote social development in rural Cambodia.
However, the Hollywood superstar stressed that Cambodia's history is not just the war.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt: their relationship in pictures
Fans on social media hold out hope for the couple
Brangelina splitting up upset many fans on social media who held them up as an example of a "perfect couple".
However, her words about staying a family have given many perhaps false hope that the two will reunite.
Many have been sharing throwback pictures of the two acting and attending award shows together, and quite a few have been sharing Angelina Jolie's quotes saying they point towards a reconciliation.
It's also pertinent that exactly a decade ago, the US tabloid front pages were flooded with pictures and stories about the 'it' couple.
A post shared by Brad Pitt (@brad_pitt_official1) on Feb 19, 2017 at 3:40pm PST
Who needs Angelina Jolie and brad Pitt when you have Trudeau and Merkel �� pic.twitter.com/FfHVyO1853
— Erika (@ZBionic) February 17, 2017
Honestly, I'm still not over the Brangelina split
— emm �� (@emmahazzard) February 19, 2017
#angelinajolie #brangelina #bradpitt #joliepitt
A post shared by Brangelina Forever (@brangelina_forever_) on Feb 19, 2017 at 4:23am PST
This Week's Tabloids 10 Years Ago (Feb. 19, 2007) pic.twitter.com/nBU2QzGRxE
— popculturediedin2009 (@pcd2009) February 19, 2017
I wake up and watch the new itw of Angie and my tears run down. So much pain in her eyes when she talked about the divorce ��#Brangelina
— ควีนโจลี่ ��❤️ (@__seungii) February 19, 2017
Omg, when she said Our family! She still loves him and want them to be a stronger family! Let's hope for the best❤ https://t.co/lwcMPLA6HS
— Brangelina Forever (@BrangelinaGirl) February 20, 2017
THERE'S STILL A HOPE FOR BRANGELINA !!
— AngelinaJoliePH (@ajolieph) February 19, 2017
A post shared by Angelina Jolie ツ️ (@angelenajolie) on Feb 18, 2017 at 6:00am PST