After going to Cambodia to film The Secret of the Ancient Tomb and taking on the role of goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie began to have feelings for this beautiful country. The actress said her first trip to Cambodia changed her life, making her deeply aware of the global refugee crisis and with it opening her up to the opportunity to become a human being.
Angelina Jolie and her children attended the movie premiere (Video: WMTV).
In 2002, at the age of 27, Jolie adopted her first child, Maddox Chivan, who was then 7 months old and living at an orphanage in Battambang, Cambodia. Jolie adopted Maddox alone and she became a single mother after she split from her then-husband, Billy Bob Thornton.
Angelina Jolie and adopted son Maddox in Cambodia (Photo: This is Chris White).
Angelina Jolie once said: “In 2001, when I was participating in a program at a school in Samlout, Cambodia. I sat on the floor playing with a small child and I had the feeling that my son was here. Some month later, I met little Maddox at an orphanage. I can’t explain it and I’m not one to believe in messages or superstitions. But it’s just a clear fact.” Angelina then went on to adopt two more children, son Pax Jolie-Pitt, from Vietnam, and daughter Zahara Jolie-Pitt, from Ethiopia. In addition, she also has three biological children with her third husband Brad Pitt.
Angelina Jolie was only 27 years old when she adopted Maddox (Photo: This is Chris White).
Sarath Mounh, Angelina Jolie’s friend in Cambodia, supported the Hollywood star in adopting little Maddox. Angie was having trouble adopting a child and Sarath helped her by acting as Maddox’s father on court documents. Maddox was added to Sarath’s family records and was his third child.
The fact that Maddox had a Cambodian father helped Angelina Jolie overcome many of the difficult legal issues she faced when adopting the boy as a foreigner. Sarath then signed a document for Angie to adopt Maddox from him.
Sarath Mounh (right) and Angelina Jolie (Photo: This is Chris White).
Mr. Sarath said: “Angelina Jolie said that in the world there are many children who need good care, need a better life. At that time, she wanted to be a mother and felt better than being the mother of a child. the child was in dire need of good care. That’s why she decided to adopt him.
Maddox is smart, sharp, and a lovely child who smiles more often than any other child. I always remember the boy’s smiling face.
When Jolie visited the orphanage and saw Maddox, the boy smiled at her and stood up, instead of crying like all the other children, Mr. Sarath said. “Maddox smiled as soon as she saw Angelina Jolie, it touched her heart, that’s why she chose Maddox,” Mr. Sarath recounted.
Angelina Jolie is happy to be a mother (Photo: This is Chris White).
Sarath doesn’t regret helping Angie by becoming Maddox’s father. They became friends after Sarath’s nonprofit worked with the Maddox Jolie Pitt foundation on conservation issues.
Sarath said: “The problem of child trafficking in Cambodia was very bad at that time, a lot of legal issues needed to be resolved and Angelina did not want to make mistakes. As a friend, I helped Angelina Jolie resolves legal issues”.
Angelina Jolie once brought her children to Cambodia to attend the premiere of her movie First They Killed My Father in 2017. The famous actress said: “We have been going back and forth to this place for the past 17 years. I feel this place. This is like my second home. My children have close relationships with the children here, many of them are close friends. Maddox is very happy to return to his country.”
Angelina Jolie carries her son Maddox for a walk (Photo: Backgrid).
Sarath added: “We Cambodians are proud and happy that Maddox grew up in such a good living environment. Many others do not have that opportunity. We want him to return to his homeland. and learn about her cultural roots. Angelina Jolie plans to return here as often as possible, which will be Maddox’s second home.
Maddox grew up in a modern life, if he can contribute to his homeland, it will be very good. Maddox is a lucky boy compared to many people in Cambodia. It would be great if he came back and helped the community.”
Maddox is now 21 years old. The young man still occasionally appears with his mother at entertainment industry events . Angelina Jolie’s eldest child studied biochemistry at Yonsei University, South Korea. In 2019, Angelina Jolie attracted public attention when she brought her children to Korea to study. The actress said she was proud that her son studied at this famous university and she tried not to cry when she had to leave him.
Maddox attended the event with mother Angelina Jolie (Photo: Getty Images).
The Oscar-winning actress said that no matter how they have children, through adoption or birth, each person has had a wonderful opportunity to become a family to each other.
“I adopted children completely intentionally. When I grow up, I want to adopt children because I know that there are children without parents. It is not a humane thing and I do not consider it It’s a sacrifice. It’s a gift,” Jolie said.
Angelina Jolie took her children to a restaurant in Los Angeles (Video: Hollywood Pipeline).
Angelina affirms that phrases like “adoption” and “orphanage” are positive words in her house. “With my adopted children, I can’t talk about the pregnancy, but I do talk in great detail and with excitement about the journey of finding them and the feeling of looking into their eyes for the first time.
All adopted children carry within them a beautiful mystery. They have origins that you don’t have. Honor them, learn from them. It’s the most amazing journey to share. They are not entering your world, but both sides are entering each other’s world and are lucky to have each other,” Angelina Jolie confided.
