Angelina Jolie was honored for her work in Maria at the Palm Springs International Film Awards on Friday, and used the moment to shine the spotlight back on her kids.
Jolie, who plays famed opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larrain’s biopic, told the crowd at the Palm Springs Convention Center, “There was Maria and there was Callas; Callas was loved, but Maria was often alone. But I’m around today because when I walk off this stage, I am more myself because of you, Zahara, and your brothers and sisters. I love you.”
Jolie’s 19-year-old daughter Zahara walked the carpet with her mother at the event, and Jolie’s children Vivienne, Shiloh, Maddox, Knox and Pax have also made appearances as Jolie has promoted the film in recent months. The moment comes just days after Jolie and Brad Pitt, who shared the six children, reached a divorce settlement and ended an eight-year-long contentious legal battle.
“I am very honored to be here tonight with so many artists I have long admired,” Jolie added in her speech. “But to everyone who is there as a support to a celebrated artist, tonight and every night, who is there with kindness and understanding, thank you. You make everything possible.” Jacqueline Bisset, who is Jolie’s godmother, was on hand to present the Desert Palm Achievement Award, actress to the star.
The Film Awards gala is the annual and always star-studded kick-off to the Palm Springs International Film Festival. In addition to Jolie, the event saw trophies presented to The Brutalist star Adrien Brody (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actor), A Complete Unknown’s Timothee Chalamet (Chairman’s Award), A Real Pain’s Kieran Culkin (Breakthrough Performance Award, Actor), Sing Sing’s Colman Domingo (Spotlight Award, Actor), Wicked’s Ariana Grande (Rising Star Award), Maria’s Angelina Jolie (Desert Palm Achievement Award, Actress), Babygirl’s Nicole Kidman (International Star Award), Anora’s Mikey Madison (Breakthrough Performance Award, Actress), Dune auteur Denis Villeneuve (Visionary Award), the Conclave cast (Ensemble Performance Award), and the team from Emilia Perez (Vanguard Award) including Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldana, Edgar Ramirez, Karla Sofia Gascon and auteur Jacques Audiard.
