Angelina Jolie Dazzles at Couture Premiere in Paris for Deeply Personal Film
Angelina Jolie made a stunning appearance at the Couture Premiere held at the Pathe Palace in Paris on Monday, captivating onlookers with her elegant style. The actress, aged 50, who portrays the character Maxine Walker in the upcoming film, commanded attention as she walked the red carpet. She wore a sheer, floor-length gown adorned with sequins, exuding chic sophistication, and complemented the look with towering black stilettos.
Her glamorous ensemble was finished with a highlighted, bouncy blowout hairstyle, enhancing her radiant presence. The film, scheduled for release on February 18, follows Maxine's journey to Paris to create a video for a fashion event. Despite her lack of interest in the industry, Maxine takes on the job due to financial pressures from an ongoing divorce, responsibilities as a mother to a teenage daughter, and preparations for her next film project.
Film Explores Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Identity
Upon arriving in Paris, Maxine receives a devastating breast cancer diagnosis, which becomes a central theme as the narrative unfolds, exploring her evolving relationship with her body and sense of self. Angelina Jolie recently shared that she was drawn to this role because Maxine's struggle to prevent her diagnosis from defining her personality resonated deeply with her own mother's experiences during illness.
Marcheline Bertrand, Angelina's mother, passed away in 2007 at age 56 after an eight-year battle with ovarian and breast cancer. This personal connection adds a layer of authenticity to Jolie's portrayal. Snapshots from the official trailer depict Angelina in emotional scenes, crying profusely as Maxine, while the preview also hints at a romantic subplot involving her character and a cinematographer played by French actor Louis Garrel.
Supporting Cast and Production Details
Directed by Alice Winocour, the film also features the stories of two other women Maxine encounters: Angèle, a makeup artist writing a novel about her industry experiences, and Ada, an 18-year-old pharmacy student from Nairobi, Kenya, who has recently embarked on a modeling career. The cast includes notable actors such as Louis Garrel, Ella Rumpf, Anyier Anei, and Garance Marillier, with Angelina Jolie also involved in production behind the scenes.
Set for release in France in February 2026, Jolie described the project as a "very personal story". She expressed admiration for Winocour's "unique" approach to illness, praising the director for handling sensitive subjects "with such delicacy". Jolie emphasized that the film moves beyond typical narratives about women's struggles, particularly cancer, which often focus on endings and sadness.
Personal Reflections and Health Advocacy
"Too often, films about women's struggles — especially cancer — talk about endings and sadness, rarely about life," Angelina stated. She added, "Hardships, illnesses, and pain are part of our existence, but what matters is how we face them." Reflecting on her mother's experience, she recalled a moment when Marcheline became emotional about chemotherapy, expressing a desire to discuss other topics to avoid having the illness consume her identity.
"I love this film because it tells a story that goes far beyond the journey of a sick person: it shows life. It was this luminous perspective that touched me and made me want to play this role," Jolie explained. In a related health context, in May 2013, Angelina underwent a preventive double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery after discovering she carries a BRCA1 gene mutation, which significantly increases the risks of breast and ovarian cancer, estimated at 87% and 50%, respectively.
