ANGELINA JOLIE: 'She's Ready for a CHANGE

Insiders say the Oscar-winning actress plans to leave the United States next year — and that she's the happiest she's been in a long time

- by JAIME HARKIN

During a press conference for her new movie, Couture, at the San Sebastián Film Festival in Spain on Sept. 21, Angelina Jolie was asked to weigh in on how she currently feels about being an artist in America. (The inquiry was a timely one: late-night host Jimmy Kimmel had been temporarily suspended the week prior for comments he made on his show about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.) "It is a very difficult question," said Jolie, who took a long pause before continuing thoughtfully. "I love my country, but at this time, I don't recognize my country." Jolie has been toying with leaving the United States for some time.

"A few days in Cambodia among the warm local people, and I feel my soul is recovering," Jolie (with Shiloh) captioned a 2022 photo from her trip to the country.

Back in 2019, the Oscar winner told Harper's Bazaar she was living in L.A. only because her children needed to be close to their father, Brad Pitt. (Jolie and Pitt, who split in 2016, share Maddox, 24, Pax, 21, Zahara, 20, Shiloh, 19, and 17-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne.) "I would love to live abroad and will do so as soon as my children are 18," she said. Now, insiders tell Us she's making good on that promise with plans to move after the twins' birthday in July.

It will be a new beginning for the Maria actress, 50, following her dragged-out, eight-year divorce from Pitt. "You can really feel a shift in Angelina recently; she's lighter and more at ease," says a source. "She'll always love L.A., but she feels it has served its purpose. She's ready for her next chapter." Adds a second source: "She's very excited for this next phase of her life."

Spreading Her Wings