Angelina Jolie was moved to tears at the Toronto International Film Festival while discussing her late mother’s battle with cancer, sharing a poignant message about supporting those facing illness.
During the premiere of her new film ‘Couture’ at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2025, Angelina Jolie participated in a post-screening Q&A session at the Princess of Wales Theatre. She was joined by costars Ella Rumpf and Anyier Anei, as well as writer-director Alice Winocour, for a discussion moderated by TIFF’s Chief Programming Officer Anita Lee.
An audience member who had recently lost a friend to cancer asked the panel for a message of hope for those dealing with grief, which prompted an emotional response from Jolie. She expressed deep sympathy for the loss before composing herself to share a personal anecdote from her own experience.
Jolie, visibly choked up, recalled a conversation with her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who felt that people only focused on her cancer rather than her whole life. Bertrand had expressed frustration after a dinner where inquiries centered solely on her illness, highlighting the need for broader conversations.
Marcheline Bertrand was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1999 and later with breast cancer before passing away in January 2007 at the age of 56. Her death had a profound impact on Jolie, influencing many personal and health-related decisions in the years that followed.
In 2013, Jolie underwent a preventive double mastectomy after genetic testing revealed she carried the BRCA1 gene, which significantly increased her risk of breast and ovarian cancer. She publicly shared her decision in a New York Times op-ed to raise awareness and encourage others to consider genetic testing and proactive measures.
The film ‘Couture,’ directed by Alice Winocour, explores themes similar to Jolie’s personal experiences, with her character facing a medical diagnosis amid personal turmoil like divorce. Winocour commented that Jolie immediately connected with the film due to her family history and her own health journey, describing it as a story about life and survival.
Jolie’s heartfelt advice emphasizes the importance of seeing cancer patients as whole individuals, beyond their illness. Her words resonated with the audience, highlighting the universal need for empathy and support in times of health crises, and underscoring her ongoing advocacy for cancer awareness.