Acclaimed actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie has made a powerful and deeply personal statement by publicly revealing the scars from her preventative double mastectomy for the very first time.
A Decision Rooted in Solidarity and Awareness
Fifteen years after undergoing the life-altering surgery, the 50-year-old Oscar winner chose to display her scars in a poignant new interview and photoshoot for TIME France magazine. Jolie explained her decision was driven by a desire to stand in solidarity with other women and to support a crucial conversation about breast health.
"I share these scars with many women I love," Jolie stated. "And I'm always moved when I see other women share theirs. I wanted to join them, knowing that TIME France would be sharing information about breast health, prevention, and knowledge about breast cancer."
The striking cover image shows Jolie in a low-cut black jumper, with one hand placed delicately across her chest. The full interview, released on 18 December, includes photographs that document her surgical journey.
A Preventative Measure Driven by Family History
Jolie's decision to have a preventative double mastectomy in early 2013 was informed by a genetic test that revealed she carries a mutation in the BRCA1 gene. This genetic fault significantly increases an individual's risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
Medical assessments indicated she faced an 87 per cent lifetime risk of breast cancer and a 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer. Following her mastectomy and subsequent reconstructive surgery, Jolie also opted to have her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in March 2015 as a further preventative step.
This profound choice was heavily influenced by her family's tragic history with the disease. Jolie lost her mother, actress Marcheline Bertrand, to breast cancer in 2007 at age 56. Her grandmother and aunt also died from cancer.
Reflecting in 2020, Jolie said her mother's premature death fundamentally changed her, describing the loss as having a protective blanket ripped away.
A Fervent Call for Accessible Healthcare and Screening
In the new interview, Jolie passionately advocates for universal access to genetic testing and cancer screening, framing it as a fundamental issue of healthcare equality.
"Every woman should always be able to determine her own healthcare journey and have the information she needs to make informed choices," she asserted. "Genetic testing and screening should be accessible and affordable for women with clear risk factors or a significant family history."
She emphasised that her original decision to go public with her story in 2013 was to promote informed choice, and that a decade later, the need for support and information remains critical. "Access to screening and care should not depend on financial resources or where someone lives," she added.
Jolie's advocacy now extends to her professional work. Her forthcoming film, Couture, due for release in February, holds special significance as she portrays Maxine Walker, an American filmmaker diagnosed with breast cancer.
She expressed her connection to the project, stating that too many films about women's illnesses focus on endings and sadness. "Hardships, illnesses, and pain are part of our existence, but what matters is how we face them," Jolie said, recalling her mother's wish not to be defined by her illness. "I love this film because it tells a story that goes far beyond the journey of a sick person: it shows life."
