Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has voiced deep concern over the state of free expression in the United States, saying she no longer recognises her country.
Speaking at the San Sebastián Film Festival in Spain on Sunday, where she presented her latest film Couture, Jolie reflected on what she described as troubling times for freedom of speech.
“I love my country, but I don’t at this time recognise my country,” the 50-year-old actress said when asked about growing restrictions on expression in the U.S.
Her remarks come amid heightened debate over free speech following President Donald Trump’s clampdown on critical media and the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s show after comments he made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Jolie warned against any measures that divide or restrict freedoms:
“Anything, anywhere, that divides or, of course, limits personal expressions and freedoms and, from anyone, I think is very dangerous. These are very, very heavy times we’re all living in together.”
Jolie was in Spain to promote Couture, directed by French filmmaker Alice Winocour, which is competing for the festival’s Golden Shell award.
She plays Maxine Walker, an American film director grappling with divorce, illness, and a new romance during Paris Fashion Week.
The Oscar-winning actress, who underwent a double mastectomy in 2013 and later had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed due to a high genetic risk of cancer, said she related personally to her character’s struggles.
Visibly emotional, Jolie said she often thought of her late mother while making the film:
“I wish she was able to speak more as openly as I have been, and have people respond as graciously as you have, and not feel as alone.”
She added that women’s cancers carry a unique emotional weight:
“There’s something very particular to women’s cancers, because obviously it affects us, you know, how we feel as women.”
