Angelina Jolie Explains Why She Revealed Her Double Mastectomy Scars for the First Time

Angelina Jolie has opened up about her decision to publicly reveal her double mastectomy scars for the first time, more than a decade after undergoing preventative surgery. The Oscar-winning actor shared the deeply personal moment in a new cover story for the inaugural issue of TIME France, using the platform to spotlight breast health awareness and informed medical choice.

Jolie, 50, underwent a double mastectomy in 2013 after learning she carries the BRCA1 gene, which significantly increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Her decision at the time sparked a global conversation about genetic testing and preventative healthcare.

“I Share These Scars With Many Women I Love”

In the TIME France interview, Jolie explained that revealing her scars was a conscious and symbolic choice.

“I share these scars with many women I love,” she said. “And I’m always moved when I see other women share theirs.”

She added that she wanted to be part of a broader effort to educate and empower women, particularly as the magazine plans to focus on breast health, cancer prevention, and access to medical information.

A Decision Shaped by Family History

Jolie’s health choices were shaped by personal loss. Her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, died in 2007 at age 56 after battling ovarian and breast cancer. Her aunt also died of breast cancer, while her grandmother died from ovarian cancer.

After learning her genetic risk, Jolie chose preventative surgery to significantly reduce her chances of developing the disease. Two years after her mastectomy, she also underwent a salpingo-oophorectomy, removing an ovary and a fallopian tube to lower her risk of ovarian cancer.

Speaking Out Changed the Conversation

When Jolie first shared her medical decision in a 2013 New York Times op-ed, she emphasized empowerment rather than fear.

“My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87% to under 5%,” she wrote at the time, adding that she felt no loss of femininity as a result of the surgery.

In her new interview, Jolie said that message remains just as important today. She stressed that genetic screening should be more widely available to women with known risk factors.

“Every woman should always be able to determine her own healthcare journey,” she said, calling for affordable and accessible testing regardless of location or income.

Advocacy Through Visibility

Jolie said her goal in sharing her scars now is to normalize conversations around women’s health and remind others they are not alone.

“When I shared my experience in 2013, it was to encourage informed choices,” she explained. “Healthcare decisions must be personal, and women must have the information and support they need.”

Art Reflecting Life

Jolie’s advocacy also extends into her work. She will next star in the French film Couture, directed by Alice Winocour, playing an American filmmaker diagnosed with breast cancer. The role, she said, felt deeply personal.

“Too often, stories about cancer focus only on sadness or endings,” Jolie said. “This film is about life—how we face hardship, and how we keep living.”

Couture is scheduled for release in France in February 2026.