Happy Birthday to Angelina Jolie! June 4 is her birthday and it’s hard to believe the actress is turning 50. Now before we talk about 5 Angelina Jolie performances, we need to address that she has nearly 70 acting credits to her name and she is a producer and director. Also, Angelina has been involved in humanitarian work and holds a private pilot’s license. She has been named Goodwill ambassador to multiple countries and has worked tirelessly to end sexual violence in war zones.
5 Angelina Jolie Performances Worth Watching on Her Birthday
A capable actress, and one who often does her own stunts, Angelina Jolie has wowed audiences. She has portrayed a variety of characters, from Maleficent to a young model whose life was tragically cut short from drugs and mental illness. Let’s see what roles were most outstanding to make the top 5 Angelina Jolie performances.
1. Gia (1998)
Angelina’s perfect encapsulation of model Gia Carangi made critics take notice. Gia was a supermodel in the late 70s and 80s who had some mental health issues. Unfortunately, Gia fell into a life of drugs, often shooting heroin – even during photo sessions. She passed away in 1986 due to complications from AIDS. This emotional movie is our first choice for the best 5 Angelina Jolie performances.
2. Playing by Heart (1998)
Another film that Angelina Jolie did in 1998 was Playing by Heart. It was a lesser known movie with an ensemble cast. Angelina played Joan opposite Ryan Phillippe. With an all-star cast, Jolie’s performance was overlooked, but she nailed it as punky smart mouthed Joan. Her character was one viewers liked and looked forward to seeing. Another great character role that belongs in the top 5 Angelina Jolie performances.
3. Beyond Borders (2003)
In this beautifully photographed film, we find Angelina Jolie playing the role of Sarah. She is halfway across the world helping poverty-stricken third world countries. Also starring in the movie is Clive Owen as Nick. Beyond Borders got Jolie interested in helping out poor, war torn countries. Fun fact: Angelina Jolie adopted her son Maddox while taping this movie.
4. Changeling (2008)
In this dramatic film, Angelina portrays Christine Collins, whose son Walter, goes missing. In addition to trying to locate her boy, she must also desperately fight the police and government authorities who have their own agenda. Truly a gifted performance from Angelina, this movie strongly deserves to be on our top 5 Angelina Jolie performances.
5. Maleficent/Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil
The role of Maleficent – someone who had a traumatic and tough past – needed to have a powerful actress portray her and Jolie was an ideal fit. Angelina could easily convey the anger, vulnerability, and raw emotions required to be effective in the role. With her foreboding black horns and super-high cheekbones, Jolie struck a chord with audiences in her interpretation of the misunderstood Maleficent.
To Sum Up
Most people are more familiar with Angelina Jolie’s career as an actress. She also is a director. The incredible film, Unbroken, is a great example of her directorial skills. The film follows the story of Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini when his plane crashed during World War II. With stellar performances by Jack O’Connell and Finn Wittrock, this film attests to how much Angelina Jolie shines as a director. Any one of these movies, including Unbroken, showcases Angelina Jolie’s fine work. Check out one of the top five Angelina Jolie performances today!
