Angelina: Desperate to be a picture-perfect mum
And that even means making up with her estranged dad, Jon Voight
Angelina took her whole brood to Disneyland last week to celebrate Shiloh turning 11. The family and their friends enjoyed full VIP treatment, and Ange even did the obligatory putting-your-hands-in-the-airon-a-roller-coaster pose. Later, the whole gang was spotted at a local natural history museum. What a wholesome family day out, eh?
Insiders say it’s part of Angelina’s efforts to reinforce the “supermum” persona she’s cultivating, something she’s prioritised since splitting from Brad Pitt last September. “Angie’s image is everything to her, and she’s desperate to be seen as a visible parent,” an insider says. “She is a naturally hands-on mum, and she’s said she doesn’t want to be photographed with her nannies. I’ve heard that someone tips off the paparazzi when Angelina is taking the kids out, and the assistants stay out of the way.”
After her marriage broke down last year, Ange turned to her older brother James Haven for help with the kids. But he apparently found it too tiring and took a step back. Now Ange, 41, is leaning on another family member for help. She recently reconciled with her estranged dad, actor Jon Voight, 78, after years of no contact. Their relationship has been one of Hollywood’s most bitter family feuds, and prior to the most recent fallout, Ange had refused to speak to her dad for almost a decade after he cheated on her mum.
The formerly strained relationship is now flourishing, as Ange needs all the allies she can get. The source says, “Jon has been trying to reach out to Ange for ages. She let him back into her life because she needs help. Plus, she’s in the middle of a charm offensive, trying to regain her standing in Hollywood, and she’s also bitlonely.”
The insider adds, “Jon has virtually moved into her rented place while she’s getting ready to move to her new mansion. He’s reading stories and cooking for the kids. He’s loving it, but it can’t be easy for him given his age. The poor guy’s being run ragged.”
With no immediate acting roles coming up, Ange is able to spend as much time with the children as possible. Meanwhile, Brad has been doing press, including the now infamous GQ Style profile, in a bid to repair his image. Insiders say, for now, he’s having supervised visits with the kids, but thankfully he and Ange are communicating more directly again. Let’s hope they find a way to co-parent effectively for the kids’ sake.