Angelina Jolie Mother Marcheline Bertrand Was ‘Soft But Could Move Mountains For Her Kids’; ‘Maleficent’ Actress Says Late Mom Influenced Her Parenting Style

Angelia Jolie's mother Marcheline Bertrand might have passed away seven years ago but she left a great impact to her daughter's perspective. In an interview with Marie Claire French edition, Brad Pitt's wife opened up about her mother's humanitarian efforts and her parenting style.

"She was very soft but could move mountains for her kids. That's something I always admire in women: that mix of softness and strength," said the 39-year-old actress.
The "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" star is known to be a supporter of diverse causes and she acknowledges her mother for instilling in her the value of helping others: "She was half Indian, and I remember that as a small girl, she took me to a dinner for Amnesty International."
"She always tried to understand the complexity of the world. She had a great heart which was sensitive to the world's violence," she said.

When asked if she believes whether life after death is possible, the mother of six answered: "I'm not certain. I feel in contact with my mother when I look at my children. I can feel her influence over me then."

"I see that my way of raising them resembles the way she raised my brother and I," she said while adding, "It's more apparent with my daughters Shiloh and Vivienne. Therefore, yes, my mother is there, present in this influence, all the time."

Angelina Jolie's mother Marcheline Bertrand passed away at the age of 56 in January 2007 after battling with ovarian and breast cancer for nearly eight years.

During Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's wedding, Bertrand was honored through a personalized message inscribed inside the Château Miraval chapel.

"Brad had a dedication to Marcheline engraved inside the chapel where we stood," said Jolie to People magazine. The bride similarly wore her mother's flower ring while her brother Jamie donned an angel pin which also belonged to Bertrand.