Angelina Jolie: Different Is Good

her message is pitch-perfect

by daniel barna

Angelina Jolie showed the world her inner child Saturday, when she attended the Kid's Choice Awards flanked by her own tiny tots Zahara and Shiloh John (who has apparently asked Brad and Angie to use the name John, though Angie refers to her child as Shiloh, still—we will follow the parents until the preference is announced). The mega-star was on hand to accept the award for "Best Villain" for her overlooked turn in the surprise blockbuster Maleficent.

She opened her speech with Maleficent's now-famous, "Well, well." She then went on: "I want to say when I was little, like Maleficent, I was told that I was different—and I felt out of place, and too loud, too full of fire, never good at sitting still, never good at fitting in," she told the uproarious crowd.  "And then one day I realized something, something I hope you all realize. Different is good."

The uplifiting speech marked Jolie's first appearance since the startling and brave revelation that she had preventative ovarian surgery.

"Don't ever try to be less than what you are, and when someone tells you that you are different, smile and hold your head up high and be proud." 

Jolie finished off the moment with a sly nod to her former bad girl rep: "Cause a little trouble, it’s good for you.”

Only Angie could make villainry totally aspirational.