It wasn’t a red carpet event, and it wasn’t a party fit for the Hollywood glitterati: Angelina Jolie‘s fiftieth birthday was neither. But this actress opted for something quite different – the stillness of a day with her kids in Los Angeles. Recently she can be seen out with her sons Knox and Pax, keeping the celebration quiet and family oriented. In a grey sweater, trousers, and a pair of glasses, Jolie appeared to be a doting mom instead of a movie star. The pictures revealed how their family dynamic has changed over the years, as Ruth stepped out of the car while her boys went behind the wheel.
The most special part of the day was that it was her son’s Knox’s birthday also. Of course, if he hadn’t had a graduation ceremony, Jolie wouldn’t have been at it. Social media videos of those who were there at the same ceremony showed the actress sitting with all the other parents and capturing as Knox walked across the stage. This moment was one of pride and openness, one that resonates with every parent, it was a real moment.
The orange and red hairstyle was certainly his standout appearance, though, as he wore a cream colored shirt and white joggers. An innocuous photo of him appearing beside his mother, unloading items from a vehicle, created a huge impression on social media and was an expression of the modest, plain life Jolie has looked to live for her family where the cameras are not present. For Pax, it was also a day of railing reports, and he was spotted talking with his mom, indicating that it was less a day about gifts, and more about spending time together.
Ordinarily, one thing about this birthday was that it was quite ordinary. No big words, no carefully-designed Instagram posts. But instead Jolie wore glasses and comfortable clothing and did only what any Mother would do, focusing only on her children. This is a sort of everyday authenticity that hardly the same could boast for someone her well-known, and it gives them a touch of authenticity and makes them more trustworthy for the general public. She does not have to “celebrate for the world. She lives it just like this.
Viewing the situation as a whole, it is somehow comforting to see a big movie star share in a major milestone by turning up to a graduation. It moves the focus from age and looks to the presence and family. Jolie’s children were her stronghold when things have been stormier in her life, so days like this one bear witness that commitment is not just a word. Even if you are an Oscar winning actress, it is there and taking your son’s picture and letting him drive the car.
The public also has a natural curiosity in how Jolie juggles her career, her humanitarian endeavors and her motherhood. There may be those who ask her to clarify whether she makes the decision to walk away from the limelight or it’s because of where she’s in her life. Others may think of it as a symbol of positive values, values that many working parents think they’d like to have. The actual fact is probably in between. She continues to work, continue to endeavor for causes in which she has faith, but she has definitely created room for these quiet and plain days. Maybe that’s the true message of her 50th anniversary. There are great yields that don’t produce a piece of art the Academy can recognize. If it seems like a grey sweater and a proud parent recording a graduation, it is!
