In a powerful and personal revelation, Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie has publicly addressed showing the scars from her preventive double mastectomy for the first time. This comes more than a decade after she underwent the life-altering surgery. Speaking in an interview with TIME France's inaugural edition, released on Monday, Jolie framed her decision not as a moment of personal exposure, but as an act of solidarity with countless women worldwide.
A Decision Rooted in Shared Experience
Jolie's choice to speak openly is deeply connected to a sense of community. "I share these scars with many women I love," she stated. The actor and humanitarian explained that she has always been profoundly moved when other women choose to speak candidly about their own health battles. For her, this public step is an extension of that shared journey, transforming a private experience into a collective conversation about health, risk, and resilience.
The Journey of Prevention and Advocacy
Angelina Jolie's path to preventive surgery began in 2013. After learning she carried the Breast Cancer gene 1 (BRCA1) mutation, which drastically elevated her risk of developing breast cancer, she made the difficult decision to undergo a double mastectomy. Her mother, actor Marcheline Bertrand, had died from cancer in 2007 at the age of 56, a loss that heavily influenced Jolie's proactive approach.
She detailed her reasoning in a landmark New York Times op-ed on 14 May 2013, revealing that the surgery slashed her estimated breast cancer risk from a staggering 87% to under 5%. In a further preventive measure, Jolie also had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in 2015 to mitigate her risk of ovarian cancer.
A Call for Accessible Healthcare and Screening
Central to Jolie's message is a strong advocacy for healthcare accessibility. She emphasized that genetic testing and screening must be affordable and available to all women, especially those with clear risk factors or a strong family history of cancer. While she firmly believes healthcare decisions are deeply personal, she stresses they must be well-informed.
"When I shared my experience in 2013, it was to encourage informed choices," Jolie remarked. She added a crucial point: access to life-saving screening should not be dictated by geography or financial means. Her advocacy highlights a global disparity in women's healthcare that needs urgent addressing.
Personal History Informing Art: The Upcoming Film 'Couture'
The conversation also turned to Jolie's upcoming film project, Couture, directed by Alice Winocour and slated for release in France in February 2026. In the film, Jolie portrays an American filmmaker diagnosed with breast cancer. She was drawn to the script precisely because it avoids framing illness as merely an ending.
Instead, the narrative focuses on life continuing alongside immense hardship. Jolie referenced her mother's grueling experience with chemotherapy, recalling how an illness can threaten to consume a person's entire identity. This perspective, born from personal loss, directly shaped her understanding and portrayal of the character, making the role profoundly resonant for her.
Understanding a Double Mastectomy
A double mastectomy is a surgical procedure where both breasts are removed. It is used both as a treatment for existing breast cancer and as a preventive measure for individuals at high genetic risk, such as those with BRCA gene mutations. Jolie's remarks, more than ten years after her own surgery, successfully reignite vital discussions on prevention, the importance of genetic screening, and the power of shared stories among women facing similar challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Angelina Jolie have a double mastectomy?
She underwent the preventive surgery in 2013 after discovering she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, which significantly increased her lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
What is the BRCA1 gene?
BRCA1 is a specific genetic mutation that substantially raises an individual's risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer compared to the general population.
