‘I thought it would be good for our marriage’: Angelina Jolie steps out with daughter Vivienne after revealing she believed working with ex Brad Pitt on final film would help them talk about their problems

She filed for divorce from her movie-star husband in September 2016 after 12 years together.

And now Angelina Jolie, 42, has revealed she thought working with ex Brad Pitt, 53, on 2015’s By The Sea would help them communicate better as a couple.

The actress directed the marital drama movie two years ago and admitted she thought it could have had a positive impact on their relationship by working together on a big project.

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Candid: Angelina Jolie, 42, has revealed she thought working with ex Brad Pitt, 53, on By The Sea would help them communicate better as a couple

By the Sea trailer starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter’s podcast Awards Chatter, she said: ‘We had met working together and we worked together well…I wanted us to do some serious work together…I thought it would be a good way for us to communicate.

‘In some ways it was, and in some ways we learned some things. But there was a heaviness probably during that situation that carried on and it wasn’t because of the film.

She continued: ‘It was something that we were dealing… things happen for different reasons, and things… why did I write that exact piece? Why did we feel that way when we made it? I’m not sure.’

The couple – who together have six children – met while filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2005, and Jolie candidly explained how she had a difficult time in the decade after they sparked a romance.

Quality time: On Monday Angelina spent some quality time with daughter Vivienne in Los Angeles. The Hollywood star looked in high spirits as she stepped out with the nine-year-old as she arrived for her Karate class

Frank: The actress directed the marital drama movie two years ago and admitted she thought it could have had a positive impact on their relationship by working together on a big project

‘Over the span of that decade, I did lose my mother,’ she added. ‘I did have my mastectomy, and I did then have an ovarian cancer scare and have that surgery as well, and other things of course that happened in life that you go through.

‘A piece of art can be something that’s healing or something that’s difficult. I don’t know. I’m glad we did that film because we did explore something together. 

She finished: ‘Whatever it was maybe it didn’t solve certain things, but we did communicate something that needed to be communicated to each other.’

Honest: Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter ‘s podcast Awards Chatter, she said: ‘We had met working together and we worked together well…I wanted us to do some serious work together…I thought it would be a good way for us to communicate

Learning: She added: ‘In some ways it was, and in some ways we learned some things. But there was a heaviness probably during that situation that carried on and it wasn’t because of the film’

Together, the former couple have Maddox, 16, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 11, and nine-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.

And on Monday, Angelina spent some quality time with daughter Vivienne in Los Angeles.

The Hollywood star looked in high spirits as she stepped out with the nine-year-old as she arrived for her Karate class.

Family time: The Hollywood star looked in high spirits as she stepped out with the nine-year-old as she arrived for her Karate class

Sunglass-clad Angelina looked endless chic in a cream knee-length coat, black denims and white tee, while Vivienne looked ready for her active class in her white martial arts trousers and a green T-shirt. 

Elsewhere, Angelina was candid while promoting her new film First They Killed My Father when she admitted that filing for divorce after a 12 year relationship has been difficult.

She said: ‘Sometimes maybe it appears I am pulling it all together. But really I am just trying to get through my days.’ 

Tough: Elsewhere, Angelina was candid while promoting her new film First They Killed My Father when she admitted that filing for divorce after a 12 year relationship has been difficult

Difficult: She said: ‘Sometimes maybe it appears I am pulling it all together. But really I am just trying to get through my days’

Angelina Jolie dances with Agnès Varda at the Governors Awards

‘I don’t enjoy being single. It’s not something I wanted,’ she continued in an interview with the Sunday Telegraph. ‘There are no upsides, there’s nothing nice about it. It’s just hard.’

Meanwhile, she signed up for Maleficent 2 this summer following the success of the 2014 original.

Speaking at the Telluride Film Festival over the weekend, the actress said: ‘We have been working on the script and this is going to be a really strong sequel.’

Although not much else is known about the upcoming sequel, last week, Disney revealed they have hired Spectre co-writer Jez Butterworth to rewrite the screenplay for the film. 

Strong: Meanwhile, she signed up for Maleficent 2 this summer following the success of the 2014 original. Speaking at the Telluride Film Festival over the weekend, the actress said: ‘We have been working on the script and this is going to be a really strong sequel’