I got the book Angelina: The Unauthorized Biography by Andrew Morton, but did not expect to read every chapter. I figured I’d skim thru, read whatever struck me as interesting and that’s it. I did not expect to be as intrigued as I was, reading every day until I came to the end. Andrew Morton’s book is a gripping, interesting look at one of the most famous women in the world.
Everyone knows the basics - she’s fiesty, sexy, ruthless, an excellent actress, a beautiful woman who had a strange obsession with knives and blood. She was married to Billy Bob Thorton and who doesn’t remember those elegant vials of blood they wore to show off their love for each other?
But how much does the public know about her upbringing, her childhood, the relationship she had with her mother and her estranged father? Previously known as Marcia Lynne, Angie’s mother changed her name to Marcheline because it sounded more French. And Marcheline plays a vital role in Angelina’s life, from trying to get her daughter to date Mick Jagger to inviting Angie’s boyfriend to live with them when Angie was only fourteen.
I learned that Angie was a drug addict and anorexic who, at a young age, was interested in the macabre including cutting herself with knives.
Angelina’s personality might have been shaped by her parents split when she was just a baby. Her mother couldn’t stand to see her baby girl, a constant reminder of Jon Voight, so she had Angelina living in an apartment basically alone, with just a rotating group of babysitters. How tragic that Angelina was deprived of her mothers love as a baby. It’s these stories that make the book so interesting. A psychology student would have a field day trying to decide the how’s and why’s of Angelina’s adult behavior.
The last few chapters focus on Angelina’s relationship with Brad Pitt, from falling in love on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith to giving birth to their twins. But those aren’t the most fascinating parts of the story. Reading this book, I couldn’t help but get the feeling that she is not a happy, fulfilled, contented woman. I could be wrong.
“Chances are you won’t be able to put this book down until your mouth is dry and your blood pressure is racing.” —Los Angeles Times
