Inside Shiloh Jolie-Pitt's Relationship With Her Mother Angelina

From an early career in modeling, Angelina Jolie successfully transitioned into a prominent actor/director with a lengthy resume. Her performances in "The Bone Collector," "Girl, Interrupted," "Wanted," and "Salt" allowed her to rack up other notable roles along with awards. Though her time as a public figure served her well, she also became a consistent topic of discussion in pop culture due to her public relationships with Jonny Lee Miller, Billy Bob Thornton, and most notably, Brad Pitt.

Before her relationship with Pitt, she adopted Maddox and Zahara — who seemingly played a significant role in the two envisioning a family together (via People). This led to Jolie introducing her first birth child, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, in 2006. According to the "Wanted" actor, Shiloh's birth was a nerve-wracking experience (via YouTube).

Despite this, she went on to give birth to twins, Vivienne and Knox, in 2008, soon after she adopted Pax in 2007. With Shiloh's birth taking the world by storm, Jolie has been sure to prioritize her children's safety in hopes of keeping them out of the public eye. On several occasions, however, she used her spotlight to express how important Shiloh is to her. Although the two are selective about what they share with the media, here are some details about their mother-daughter relationship that you may not know.

On May 27, 2006, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt was born in Swakopmund, Namibia. Since Shiloh was in breech, Angelina Jolie had to undergo a cesarean section, which was, according to her, "very quick" (via YouTube). When asked why she chose Africa as the place for Shiloh's birth, she told Anderson Cooper, "I love Africa, and I just wanted to be in a part of the world that would be wonderful for my other children. I didn't want to spend months held up in a house here. I wanted to have a beautiful time with my family."

Unfortunately, Jolie experienced a devastating loss just eight months after Shiloh entered her life. She told People that while she was in the hospital giving birth, her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, was also in the hospital — but for a different reason. Bertrand had ovarian cancer and died in January 2007. With her mother dying just months after Shiloh's birth, reminiscing about that period likely causes mixed emotions, as her mother couldn't live to see Shiloh grow. Luckily, Shiloh got to meet her grandmother shortly before she died. 

"I brought Shiloh to the hospital room. [The baby] kept pulling her oxygen, and my mother kept saying, 'It's okay, I don't need it,'" Jolie told People. "That's such a perfect grandmother, you know? You don't need your oxygen."

Angelina Jolie describes her younger self as "a little unhinged," and she opposed her mother's authority on several occasions (per The Guardian). Despite this, her mother embraced this part of her, oftentimes seeing the beauty in how expressive she was at such a young age. Her sometimes loud personality caused her to think that she could never settle down and become a responsible adult. "If you would have asked me as a teenager if I could have been anybody's mom, or of any use to the U.N. or write a book, I would have said absolutely not," she said.

According to Jolie, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt appeared to have adopted the loud personality she once had as a child. From her strong beliefs about her wardrobe to her identifying as "John or Peter" (we'll get to that later), Shiloh is seen as Jolie's "mini-me." In a 2007 interview, she talked extensively about each of her children and what she loves about them (via People).

When she got to Shiloh, she revealed that the 1-year-old was already showing signs of being a little troublemaker. "I think I'm recognizing some of myself in that one," she said. "She's going to be a little bit of trouble!"

As stated before, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt shared the same expressive personality her mother had when she was a child. While some may assume that this only went as far as how she acted on a day-to-day basis, Shiloh began to express herself through bold fashion choices too. Although Shiloh eventually adopted a feminine style in her teenage years, she was known to be a bit of a tomboy when she was younger, usually opting for a more masculine-presenting appearance (per Vanity Fair).

During his appearance on "Oprah," her father Brad Pitt even stated that Shiloh wanted to be called "John" or "Peter" at a very young age (via YouTube). "It's a 'Peter Pan' thing, so we've got to call her John," he revealed. "It's like, 'Shi, do you want ...' — 'John. I'm John!'"

Shiloh's love for what they called "Montenegro style" caused Jolie to receive backlash for how she allowed her daughter to dress. During an interview with Reuters in 2010, she showed a deep appreciation for her daughter's self-expression.

"I think [Shiloh] is fascinating, the choices she is making. And I would never be the kind of parent to force somebody to be something they are not," she said. "I think that is just bad parenting."

Angelina Jolie met Brad Pitt in 2003 when they starred in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." Following the end of two marriages, she was indifferent to starting a new relationship — especially with someone who was going through a divorce. After Pitt called it quits with fellow actor Jennifer Aniston, the two developed an ongoing romance that eventually led to their marriage in 2014. Though the two appeared to love each other dearly, Jolie shocked the world when she filed for divorce in 2016.

With rumors circulating — like Brad Pitt's alleged history of abuse — it's safe to assume that Shiloh and the rest of her siblings had a hard time coping with their parents splitting. According to People, a source told the publication that they were attending therapy with their mother after she filed for divorce.

A custody battle ensued, resulting in the judge granting the two shared custody in 2021 (per New York Daily News). While there isn't a lot that can be answered due to legal reasons, Jolie stated in a 2020 interview with Vogue India that she ultimately wants her children to heal from the traumatic experience altogether.

"I continue to focus on their healing," she told Vogue. "Some have taken advantage of my silence, and the children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds."

In 2012, author Katherine Applegate published a book titled "The One and Only Ivan," which was inspired by a true story. Ivan was a western lowland gorilla who spent 27 years in isolation at a shopping center (per The One and Only Ivan). Animal organizations struggled to find him a suitable place to call home. In 1994, Zoo Atlanta was able to take him in for the better part of his life. Though Ivan quickly became one of their main attractions, the intelligent gorilla faced health complications and died in 2012.

In 2020, Disney released a movie based on the story. Angelina Jolie — alongside other notable actors like Bryan Cranston and Danny DeVito — took part in the film's adaptation. In an interview on "Entertainment Tonight," Jolie revealed that her involvement in the project was due to Shiloh's interest in the story.

"Well, Shiloh, years ago, told me that she had read a book that she loved, and she wanted me to read it," she said. "I read it on my own and then we looked at some of it together and we talked about why she loved it." From there, Jolie expressed an interest in turning the story into a film. When she gained knowledge that Disney was in the early stages of doing so, she got involved so that the film was authentic to its source material.

With Shiloh Jolie-Pitt entering her later years as a teenager, her want for independence must be at an all-time high. Though Angelina Jolie is sure she raised her daughter well enough to tackle the challenges of being an adult, it seems that she has additional provisions in place so that her 16-year-old daughter doesn't step too far into adulthood. An example of this could be seen through the alleged reports of the rules Shiloh must follow as a driver-in-training.

According to Hollywood Life, Jolie is happy with Shiloh taking this necessary step in life. However, she appears to be very stern about what she expects out of Shiloh behind the wheel.

"There are extra rules that Shiloh has to follow for the first year," a source told Hollywood Life. "Like no friends in the car without a chaperone, and she can't be out alone past 11." Jolie seemingly understands the mindset an adolescent like her has during this critical stage of their life, causing her to become overly protective. In an effort to ensure her safety, Shiloh may have to work with her mother for a bit longer before she's comfortable with her endeavors as a young adult.

In addition to allowing them the freedom to express themselves, Angelina Jolie is also aware that she is far from a "regular mom." When it comes to disciplining her children, she stated that she embraces their rebellious attitudes rather than scolding them for it (per People). Aside from this, she seemingly takes her mommy duties very seriously. In hopes of giving their children a life filled with reasonable freedom, she consistently goes out of her way to make any special occasion an unforgettable experience for her kids — especially Shiloh.

Jolie spared no expense in crafting a memorable party for her daughter's 13th birthday. According to Us Weekly, an insider revealed that she threw an escape-room-themed party at The Basement in Los Angeles.

The "Salt" actor reportedly rented out the space for four hours so that Shiloh and her friends had full access to each one of the escape rooms the facility offered. In between their escapes, Jolie offered Shiloh and her friends several activities, such as watching magician Micah Cover perform magic tricks and playing table tennis. From custom birthday cakes to commemorative merchandise, it appears that Jolie went the extra step in ensuring that Shiloh had the best birthday ever.

Clothes for Shiloh Jolie-Pitt have played a somewhat significant role in her expression of self. Whether she's sporting ripped jeans with a pair of Converse or a vibrant dress, her wardrobe appears to be diverse. According to Angelina Jolie, she seemingly contributed to Shiloh's ever-growing collection of apparel by sharing some of her pieces with her.

In 2021, Jolie, Zahara, Knox, Vivienne, Shiloh, and Maddox all made appearances on the red carpet for the premiere of Marvel's "Eternals." During their London appearance, fans couldn't help but notice that Shiloh wore the same Dior gown her mother wore at a "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" news conference in 2019 (per Page Six). Zahara did the same during their appearance in Los Angeles, sporting the same dress she wore at the Oscars in 2014 (per Daily Mail).

In preparation for their public appearances together, Jolie turned an upcycling idea into a full-fledged clothing haul and permitted her kids to take clothes from her collection to wear. In an interview with E! News, Jolie revealed that she got a kick out of watching her kids wear her clothes, suggesting that it was a rite of passage. "I'm like, 'Oh my god, wear it and wear it better than me. Take it, it's your turn,'" she said.

Despite the "Maleficent" actor's rebellious attitude as a teenager, she has since become involved in charitable causes. From visiting refugee camps in 2001, she developed an interest in humanitarian work (per The United Nations Refugee Agency).

Whether it be through charities or well-thought-out speeches, Jolie uses her platform to bring awareness to the imbalances in human rights throughout the world. "I celebrate refugees because they are the strongest people I've ever met," she said in a 2006 interview with The Associated Press (via YouTube). "And I think they're remarkable, what they go through, and the refugee families and the children, and how much they overcome."

Given her interest in humanitarian work, it's safe to assume that she encourages her family to take part as well. In 2015, Shiloh and her mother visited Turkey and Lebanon — the epicenter of the refugee crisis — to celebrate World Refugee Day (per Hola!). There, Jolie gave a speech acknowledging those deprived of human rights and prompting those in attendance to make an effort in enforcing change.

Through watching her mother's charitable efforts, Shiloh eventually expressed an interest in participating as well. While the experience uncovered many harsh truths outside of the world she knows, Jolie stated that Shiloh "was happy that she went and is looking forward to the next visit."

In an interview with The Hot Hits, Angelina Jolie revealed that her portrayal of the notable anti-hero Maleficent created an issue in casting for the 2014 retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" (via YouTube). Costumed with black horns and wings, she found herself on set sporting the look of the evil princess. Once she got the character right, it was time for the production team to seek out a child actor to play young Aurora.

To her surprise, her spine-chilling ensemble — along with her performance — terrified the kids they brought on set. Luckily, she had a solution to fix the problem, which was to cast her daughter, Vivienne, as Aurora. "The only kid I knew that I could never scare is my daughter," she said.

Pax and Zahara also decided to play parts in the film (per People). Jolie — who seemingly got comfortable with her kids being on set with her — suggested that Shiloh should play an older Aurora. According to the actor, Shiloh scoffed at the idea and quickly declined. "She thought it was the most ridiculous thing in the world," she told The Hot Hits. "She would never even wear a dress. Never, ever."

Shiloh asked to play a made-up character named "Marcus" instead, which, to her mother's knowledge, doesn't exist in the world of "Maleficent."

Angelina Jolie's previous marriages caused her to refrain from jumping into another one too soon. According to a 2006 interview with People, getting married didn't cross her mind when she and Brad Pitt started dating. "We both have been married before," she said. "So it's not marriage that's necessarily kept some people together."

Despite her views on marriage, the two married on August 23, 2014, after a decade-long romance. Held in Correns, France, the small ceremony had their friends and family in attendance (per People). Alongside their kids having responsibilities during the wedding — like Zahara and Vivienne being the flower girls while Shiloh and Knox were the ring bearers — Shiloh and her siblings helped designer, Luigi Massi, design their mother's dress.

While the front appeared chic and simple, the back was covered in several hand-drawn pieces done by all six of her kids. "Luigi is like family to me, and I couldn't imagine anyone else making this dress," she told People. "He knows and cares for the children and it was great fun putting it together."

While most parents with illustrious careers may fantasize about passing the torch to their offspring, it seems that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are satisfied with all six of their kids chasing their own dreams. As stated before, Jolie believes that her children should be allowed the freedom to express themselves — which was apparent in the outfits Shiloh chose to wear from a young age. Years later, Shiloh seemingly picked up a new form of expression that caught us and her parents by surprise.

In 2022, videos of Shiloh two-stepping to Lizzo's "About Damn Time" and Doja Cat's "Vegas" went viral on social media (via YouTube). Although her parents were sure Shiloh would excel at anything she put her mind to, her skills as a dancer left them and the general public in awe.

According to her father, he's not too sure where her dancing skills came from, but he's deeply proud of her endeavors as a dancer. "I love them to find their own way, find things they're interested in, find their own voice, and flourish," Pitt told "Entertainment Tonight" (via YouTube). For her mother, a source close to the family told Us Weekly that she shares the same sentiment, suggesting that she has no problem with Shiloh pursuing a professional dancing career.