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Angelina Jolie at The Gothams 2024 Film Awards© Patrick McMullan

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Angelina Jolie learned French for her new film 'Stitches'

The film features parts in English and French


Maria Loreto
Senior Writer
DECEMBER 19, 2024 7:53 PM EST

Angelina Jolie is picking up some skills for her next film. The actress, who's been busy following the release of "Maria," is working on her next film. The project is called "Stitches" and is set in the fashion world, with her character needing to speak French and English. 

Angelina Jolie in The Tonight Show© NBC
Angelina Jolie in The Tonight Show

The Daily Mail reports that Jolie is now fluent in the language, representing yet another skill that Jolie learned due to her work. 

Most recently, she learned how to sing to play the role of Maria Callas, one of the most beloved Opera singers in history. 

"Sometimes people keep quoting me because I made — not the mistake — I admitted it was like a therapy," said Jolie in an appearance on Variety's Actors on Actors. "It was the finding my voice and letting my voice out; that was really hard for me. I was really emotional about it."

"Stitches" is currently filming in Paris and is scheduled for release at some point in 2025. The film is being directed by Alice Winocour, with plot details being kept under wraps. The only detail we know is that it's set in the world of high fashion. 

Angelina Jolie speaks onstage during The 77th Annual Tony Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on June 16, 2024 in New York City.  (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)© Theo Wargo
Angelina Jolie at the Tony Awards

Angelina Jolie's connection to French

While reports claim that Jolie only recently learned the language, she's dabbled with it in the past, speaking some lines in French in the film "Taking Lives," where she played an FBI agent. 

Most importantly, Jolie's mother, Marcheline Bertrand is of French-Canadian descent and might have taught her daughter a bit of the language. 

Bertrand also wanted to be an actress, giving up that dream in order to focus on raising her kids. She died of cancer in 2007 at the age of 56, and had a close relationship with her daughter, with Jolie revealing that Bertrand was one of the reasons why she chose an acting career. 

Angelina Jolie's parents in 1977: Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand© Getty Images
Angelina Jolie's parents in 1977: Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand

“Her dreams of being an actor faded as she found herself, at the age of 26, raising two children," wrote Jolie in a New York Times op-ed. "After she died, I found a video of her acting in a short film. She was good. It was all possible for her."

"Before her death, she told me that dreams can simply change shape," she continued. "Her dream to be an artist was in fact her mother’s dream. And later she hoped it would be mine."

"I think of how true that must be for so many women before us, whose dreams have taken generations to realize." 

Marcheline Bertrand, Angelina Jolie and the actress Jacqueline Bisset© AFP via Getty Images
Marcheline Bertrand, Angelina Jolie and the actress Jacqueline Bisset