Angelina Jolie remembers her late mother’s cancer battle at Toronto premiere
The actress shared a personal story about Marcheline Bertrand’s illness, urging people to see loved ones as more than their diagnosis
Angelina Jolie became emotional at the Toronto International Film Festival while recalling her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who died of breast cancer in 2007. The actress reflected on her mother’s words and the impact of her loss on her own life and choices.
Jolie was just three years old when her parents, Marcheline Bertrand and Jon Voight, separated. Raised primarily by her mother, she described their relationship as deeply close. Bertrand was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 and passed away in 2007 at the age of 56.
In past interviews, Jolie has said her mother’s devotion to family shaped her own view of parenting. “In her passing she reminded me what matters,” she told Vanity Fair in 2008, reflecting on how Bertrand’s example influenced the way she raises her six children.
Choosing prevention after family history
With a family history of breast and ovarian cancer, Jolie decided to undergo a preventative double mastectomy in 2013. In a widely read New York Times essay, she revealed she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, which put her at high risk of developing the disease.
Her decision, later known as the “Angelina Effect,” encouraged more women worldwide to seek genetic counseling and testing. Experts and charities have credited her openness with saving lives by raising awareness and prompting preventative treatment.
Remembering her mother at TIFF
On September 7, during a Q&A at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of her new film Couture, Jolie grew tearful when asked about offering hope to those affected by cancer. She recalled a memory from her mother’s illness that stayed with her:
“One thing I remember my mother saying when she had cancer… she said, ‘All anybody ever asks me about is cancer.’” Jolie explained that her mother wanted to be seen as more than her diagnosis.
“So I would say, if you know someone who is going through something, ask them about everything else in their life as well. They’re a whole person and they’re still living.”
Seventeen years after her mother’s death, Jolie continues to speak openly about the experience, both to honor Bertrand’s memory and to help others navigating similar struggles. Her message at the festival was simple: people living with illness deserve to be remembered for their full lives, not just their condition.
