Angelina Jolie opens up in a new interview about some of the health issues sheâs faced in the past year following her split from Brad Pitt. Among other ailments, the actress reveals she developed Bellâs palsy, a condition that causes one half of the face to droop.
Jolie graces the cover of the latest issue of Vanity Fair, in which she discusses separating from her husband of 12 years, raising six kids as a single mom, her upcoming Cambodia genocide film First They Killed My Father, and much more. One piece of information she divulges for the first time is suffering both hypertension and Bellâs palsy last year. The viral infection caused temporary paralysis in her face, but the actress has since recovered from the disorder.
âSometimes women in families put themselves last until it manifests itself in their own health,â Jolie says, before crediting acupuncture with curing many of her health woes. Still, the actress admits sheâs also developed dry skin and extra gray hairs in the 10 months since she and Pitt separated. âI canât tell if itâs menopause or if itâs just been the year Iâve had,â she says. âI actually feel more of a woman because I feel like Iâm being smart about my choices, and Iâm putting my family first, and Iâm in charge of my life and my health. I think thatâs what makes a woman complete.â
As for how she and her six children are coping with the breakup, Jolie notes, âItâs just been the hardest time, and weâre just kind of coming up for air⊠Weâre all trying to do our best to heal our family.â She adds, âIâve been trying for nine months to be really good at just being a homemaker and picking up dog poop and cleaning dishes and reading bedtime stories. And Iâm getting better at all three. But now I need to get my boots on and go hang, take a trip.â Jolieâs issue of Vanity Fair is on newsstands now.
Photo: AOL