A formidable super-power, the alluring, athletic bombshell, Angelina Jolie, earns our distinctive title of Entertainer of the Year, given the many roles she’s played and how much they’ve entertained us over the past 12 months.
While it’s true that she only starred in one theatrically released feature in 2005, Jolie’s off-screen antics have kept the country, albeit the world, at the edge of their seats—regaling us with more mythology, rumor and alleged scandal than we’re used to in a given calendar year. With her extra-curriculars, the astute Jolie managed to generate more news, splash a greater number of magazine covers, and get more honest-to-goodness philanthropic work done than any other jet-setting celebrity of her status (except maybe Oprah, whose private life is iron-clad shut, so she doesn’t count).
No, Jolie is not passing her days branding perfumes and partnering in self-promoting corporate endeavors to propel her name into the stratosphere. Instead, she’s actually shining-up her star through a combination of international works, charitable acts, high-profile adoptions and, let’s face it, by fanning the flames of a certain mystery enshrouding her alleged’ affair with her dashing Mr. & Mrs. Smith co-star Brad Pitt, both during and after his marriage to Jennifer Aniston.
Her Frenzy:
While theirs was tactfully presented as a casual friendship, it’s the little things that caused raised initial eyebrows: Jolie’s curious and costly, mid-summer lingerie purchases at Coco de Mer; a few stealthy photos taken by intrusive paparazzi of her with heartthrob Pitt and beloved son, Maddox, at her Buckinghamshire mansion, and then half-way round the world on an idyllic African beach; dewy looks and awkward glances while on press junket tours; Pitt’s embarking on the adoption process of cuties Maddox and her Ethopian baby girl, Zahara, whom he totes about with picturesque daddy-stance… And last, but not least, their obvious, oozing on-screen chemistry as assassins in their summer box-office blockbuster.
Since filming began, countless media-perfect stories have circled about the enigmatic star and her emerging couple status with the once-married Pitt, also devoted to charitable works in Africa over the past few years. It was a match made in tabloid heaven: Prince Charming ditched the Cinderella-next-door for the regent Queen of Spades—a twisted royal flush–that spelled intrigue, romance and drama. Especially as the Prince had been scratching to be King. Maybe Jolie finally met her match—though he was already committed to another actress, but hey, no name-calling; time for grace under fire.
Having made it through her Billy Bob Thornton and Johnny Lee Miller blood-bound marriages, for Jolie, perhaps the third will be the charm? But can she shake off the prickly origins and strained karma from which her innocent “friendship” with Pitt began? Does she even care? Only time will tell. Intelligent and conscious of her effects on others, one things seems certain, the sensitive mom is indifferent to rules that govern the normal folk—all the more, the paparazzi is indifferent to rules that govern normal celebrity coverage when it comes to Jolie. Oh, it’s certainly been a year for our petite, beleaguered, globe-trotting megastar mom as she squints, and turns ever-so-slightly to the right while striking a glamorous pose to deflect the vulture-like paparazzi.
So how did it all begin? … Well, once upon a time there was an eye-catching, medieval-gothic princess named Angelina, who hailed from a remote, shadowy kingdom, where she dreamed–between acting gigs–of becoming a funeral director. One day however, she kissed a frog, a princess, her brother and a handsome prince or two, and soon turned into a stunning, bona fide Renaissance Queen. Shortly thereafter, she was appointed “Goodwill Ambassador” and began traversing the globe with her thespian chops and humanitarian deeds–heralding a new age of enlightenment for the growing number subjects who sought refuge in her kingdom. She attracted legions who fell under her spell. Her rules were different, her charisma unfailing, her grace unflinching–even in the face of scandal and upheaval. Now that’s royalty.
Our Frenzy:
With the copious amounts of re-treaded information published on the ever-shimmering, chameleon-like megastar, one could call it redundant to mention all her recent newsworthy stories, given the fact that–unless you’re living in one of those devastated, third-world countries that she often visits to impart aid–you’ve probably o.d.’d on your Jolie intake.
From glimpses of meetings with upstanding ambassador-looking types to seeing that god-awful, media-borne contraction “Brangelina” splashed across the pages of too many publications to mention, you probably feel like you can’t take it anymore… But nonetheless, you pick-up that tawdry magazine, you gaze at the fluffy ET story and you angle to hear the new shock-jock radio dish; all the while getting pulled again into the soothing high-tide of the familiar: reading the old and the new, the false and the true–just as long as you’re consuming something about Angelina Jolie. And there are so many different Angelinas to take in: the missionary, the adventurer, the mom, the seductress, the human rights activist, the cutter, the pan-sexual, the tattoo-mama, the privacy seeker, the media darling, the snake charmer, the home-wrecker, the family-maker, the fearless warrior—the damsel in distress—oh yeah, and the actress.
Then there’s the external abundance of incongruous, model-ideal features she displays: bee-stung lips, an aquiline nose, olive skin and blue-green eyes; with her voluptuous looks and feline aura, certainly we can admit that identifying her as “white” almost seems a bit understated for categorically identifying this Eartha Kitt-like femme fatale whose features dance with a not-so-distant, “woman of color” brazenness. In short, Angelina is many things at once—and that these elements are playfully in conflict, is all the more provocative for her admiring public, that can’t seem to get enough updates on her.
Like a rabid pack of day traders gathered on the stock exchange floor, we wait for our latest updates on Angelina from the paparazzi. Are we looking for another worldwide glamazon, ambassadress like Princess Diana? Someone whose personal life both titillates and draws upon our empathy? Are we in search of a modern enchantress like Josephine Baker, committed to building a multi-racial family, at any cost? Or, are we on a mission to find a more grounded, seemingly less narcissistic J-Lo, with deeper, thespian roots validated by the Academy trademark? Perhaps we’re seeking a combo of all three? Likely, you may have thought, I’m not the evil paparazzi, pursuing her (and her beloveds) at every turn on the globe—but, truth be told, if we weren’t ingesting the food, there’d be no cause for the frenzy over the morsels of information. Is it her sexy, ethnic-enhanced beauty? Her counter-to-type femininity? Or is it our insatiable appetite for a seeing a classy, rugged, mélange-looking poster goddess breaking all the rules that fuels our tireless pursuit of Jolie-coverage? Probably, it’s all of the above. But yes, blame the media. It’s easier.
Looking Back:
Daughter to legendary screen actor, Jon Voight, and actress Marcheline Bertrand, Jolie was perhaps destined to inherit her good looks and magnetism from her royal lineage that included a part-Iroquois heritage. With a father that burst into public-awareness with his Academy-Award nominating turn in Midnight Cowboy, as a naïve young buck set to conquer New York with his brimming sexual prowess, Jolie saw before her a sure-fire model which she would not shy away from: the privilege to pursue acting roles that could combine the extremes of pathos while pushing the limits of complex sexual scenarios. Like father, like daughter—their looks and atypical intensity would sustain a promising career. Displaying intelligence and sensuality, both Oscar winners have earned highly respected, coveted stations in their craft, although their careers continue along an uneven path. Both have spoken of not wanting to get too wrapped up in their acting world; one get the sense that after spending over 20 years in the business, Jolie understands how it modulates. And perhaps it is that very desire of not getting too caught up her craft that has vaulted her to other heights.
[PAGEBREAK]A little over a year ago, Angelina was quoted as saying, “If I ever have a relationship again, I don’t think he’ll be an actor. It’ll be somebody who can teach me, somebody who’s already been inspired in their life to do a lot of things that I haven’t even thought of yet, who can make me better as a person.” Hmmm, well, seasons change don’t they? Let’s take a sprint down memory lane:
Curious Moments in 2005
January: Jolie says that she gives one third of her earnings to charity. Pitt and Aniston announce split—rumors speculate the couple’s separation is due to differing views on children, given a recent Diane Sawyer interview with Pitt.
March: Pitt and Aniston file for divorce.
April: Pitt and Jolie coincidentally find themselves cavorting on a Kenyan beach, with Maddox in tow, despite Jolie’s consistent denials over a burgeoning romance.
May: Reports roll in of a second African getaway for Jolie and Pitt. Jolie visits Pakistan as Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR.
June: Mr. & Mrs. Smith opens on June 10, ultimately taking in over $185 million at the box office. Giggly Jolie and bare-chested Pitt caught on film playing happy family at her English countryside estate.
July: Jolie adopts Ethiopian newborn Zahara Marley Jolie, orphaned by AIDS thereby saving her life from threatening illnesses.
August: As Jolie starts work on a new film, Pitt is seen taking care of her kids. Reports surface of Maddox referring to Pitt as “Dad” at a photo shoot. King Norodom Sihamoni decrees that Jolie be given Cambodian citizenship based on her environmental work there, officially tying her to Maddox’s homeland. Rumors also fly of Jolie being pregnant—when mentioned during a Vanity Fair cover story with Aniston, she breaks down (naturally).
September: Jolie becomes the new face of smart fashion line St. John Knits, famous for clothing senior executives, such as Hillary Clinton and Condoleeza Rice. Aniston, meanwhile, professes to Oprah that she’s ready to move on.
October: Pitt and Aniston’s divorce is final; their home goes up for sale.
November: Pitt and Angelina enjoy first public outing together at a Muhammad Ali gala. Jolie also visits Geneva to receive briefings about her mission to Pakistan.
December: Model Jenny Shimizu, a former lady flame of Jolie, tells a reporter that she doesn’t believe Jolie could remain married and happy given her proclivity to “explore the jungle” from time to time. Pitt celebrates his 42nd birthday. Extra reports that a van is seen unloading furniture, with Jolie hovering nearby, into Pitt’s bachelor pad. Happy birthday, Brad?
The Verdict:
For the endless barrage of attention she both consciously demands and inadvertently generates, Jolie has decidedly planted herself on terra firma as a mega celebrity, regardless of the number of movies she churns out in a given year. She knows how to work it. A brunette ambition, perhaps? So whether she’s in a blockbuster or a dud, Jolie has nothing to worry. She’s figured it out on her own terms, and her fame will continue to precede her for years to come.
We think it’s very doubtful this curvaceous, media savvy provocateur will be Gone in 60 Seconds. As a matter of fact, it’s more than likely she’ll soon be running 60 Minutes, with her own blend of political and celebrity sensationalism, ripe to champion her own causes—protecting refugee rights, normalizing alternative lifestyles or smartening-up the frenzied media. We agree with you whole-heartedly. Angelina Jolie is our beloved Entertainer of the Year.
