Angelina Jolie Dishes on Pax, Brad

The always loquacious Angelina Jolie sat down with Reader’s Digest for a face-to-face. As in any real Jolie interview, it’s almost impossible to select a few choice quotes — they’re all great. You can read the full interview here, but here are some highlights.

On whether her pregnancy with Shiloh was intentional:

It was. Before I met Brad, I always said I was happy never to have a child biologically. He told me he hadn’t given up that thought. Then, a few months after Z came home, I saw Brad with her and Mad, and I realized how much he loved them, that a biological child would not in any way be a threat. So I said, “I want to try.”

On Pax:

Pax is almost three and a half and has never made a real decision for himself because everybody does everything in a group in the orphanage. There were all these things he’d never had. The first time I gave him a bath, he was suddenly laughing, out of his mind. He took five baths in one day. We’d be talking and he’d take his clothes off and run into the bathroom.

The first two days, he cried a lot. I hired a translator, and he would explain what was going on. The first night, I slept alone with him. I was expecting him to wake up and scream, but he woke and just stared at me. I handed him a stuffed animal, and we walked around the room pointing at things. By day three, he didn’t want me to put him down. I think he got used to the reality that somebody loves you and that’s what a mommy is.

Rest of the highlights are after the jump.

On Brad:

I think Pax, after seeing how much Zahara and Mad and Shi love Brad, understands that he’s his daddy. Everybody seems to be safe in his arms. He makes everybody laugh. He helps everybody.

I discovered a man who’s extremely thoughtful, intelligent and invested in many issues. He’s just more quiet in his way. I think that’s the reason I love him. If I’m curious about something, I put my boots on and I’ll go tomorrow. I’ve been too outspoken. He’s the person who methodically figures out what he believes in and how he’s going to handle something, then does it seamlessly

He encourages the right things. If I’ve had a full day and just really been a hands-on mom, he’ll make a point to let me know that’s something he’s proud of. If I’m writing an Op-Ed, he’s the first person to want to read the drafts. I could be dressed up in the sexiest outfit for a photo shoot, and by his behavior, he’ll let me know that’s nice, but it’s nothing as sexy as when I’m home surrounded by the kids or reading books, educating myself. He slows me down to kind of get it right, to relax into the strength of my family and the love.

Do you want more children?
Yeah, yeah. More biological, more adopted.

On the death of her mother:

I’m one of those people who walk around as if it’s fine, and then suddenly I don’t know why I’m crying over my breakfast. My mother was my best friend. I’m so grateful I had her as a mom. She had cancer for seven years, but she lived long enough to see my brother and I grow up to be quite happy. You almost get the feeling she held on until it was okay.

On the gossip:
Our first question is what paper is it in. The New York Times? If not, do we really need to worry?