Hollywood star Angelina Jolie broke down in tears during the world premiere of her latest film Couture at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The 50-year-old actress became emotional when an audience member asked for advice on coping with the loss of a loved one to cancer.
The attendee shared that he had recently lost a close friend, which led Jolie to pause before offering words of comfort. Holding back tears, she said, “I’m very sorry.” Her reaction struck a chord with the audience, as Jolie herself lost her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, to ovarian and breast cancer in 2007. In 2013, she underwent a preventive double mastectomy to reduce her own cancer risk.
Sharing a heartfelt memory from her mother’s battle, Jolie recalled, “One thing I remember my mother saying when she had cancer, she told me once at dinner, ‘All anybody ever asks me about is cancer.’” Jolie emphasized the importance of treating those battling illness as whole people: “If you know someone who’s going through something, ask them about everything else in their life too. They are more than their illness, and they’re still living.” Her words received warm applause from the audience.
Earlier in the day, during a press conference, Jolie spoke about how personal Couture felt to her. “The film is very thoughtful—it gives you space to think about life. Every single person here has been touched by grief, everyone has lost someone. You wonder, does that moment define you, or how you live after it?” she reflected.
In Couture, Jolie plays filmmaker Maxine, a character living beyond her cancer diagnosis. “What I really loved is that the story doesn’t just focus on illness. Maxine isn’t defined by her diagnosis—she’s a mother, an artist, a woman with passions and identity. It was important to show that life continues in many dimensions,” Jolie explained.
During the emotional moment on stage, Jolie was comforted by director Alice Winocour and co-star Anyier Anei, as the audience supported her with applause and empathy.