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Angelina Jolie is officially in her social butterfly era, and honestly, it's a refreshing shift. For years, the Oscar-winning actress had an untouchable aura. She wasn't exactly known for mingling with Hollywood's inner circle, and she even admitted that her best friends were her kids rather than A-list peers. Meanwhile, her ex, Brad Pitt, was rubbing elbows with George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, and the rest of the industry's golden boys.
But lately? Angelina is changing her tune. She's stepping into awards season with warmth, grace, and a whole new approach involving actual Hollywood friendships.
At the Critics Choice Awards, she was spotted hugging Demi Moore and chatting with Zoe Saldaña. Just days before, she embraced Kate Winslet and Salma Hayek at the Golden Globes. And at the Palm Springs Film Awards, she cozied up to Nicole Kidman. Even at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, she made a point to stick close to Ava DuVernay.
This isn't by accident. A Hollywood insider told DailyMail.com that Angelina is intentionally making new connections and actually enjoying it.
"She knows what she's doing—it's on purpose," the source shared. "She loves making new female friends, and she has tremendous respect for her famous pals."
A big influence? Salma Hayek
Angelina and Salma became tight after working on "The Eternals," and Salma even stars in Angelina's upcoming directorial project, "Without Blood." Apparently, Salma is a mentor type who encourages her friends to put themselves out there, and it wouldn't be surprising if she nudged Angelina to warm up to Hollywood.
But as much as Angelina is embracing her social side, she's also handling a professional letdown like a total pro.
Despite glowing reviews for her role as Maria Callas in "Maria," Jolie was completely shut out of the Oscar nominations. No Best Actress nod, nothing. She also got snubbed at the SAG Awards, even though she worked the awards circuit harder than she has in years—hitting late-night shows, magazine covers, and major events.
"Look at all the press she did—she wanted to get nominated," a source told Page Six. "She did 'Jimmy Fallon,' her first late-night show in over a decade. She even went to the Gotham Awards."
The Academy's decision stings even more because some believe Hollywood still sides with Brad. One insider claimed, "This just shows that Hollywood is Team Brad. The Globes showed that the foreign press loves her, but that's not Hollywood. Nobody was going to go against Brad and give Angelina a vote."
Of course, awards season is always full of surprises, and this year saw a wave of first-time nominees, which might have played a role in Angelina's snub.
Regardless, she's not letting it slow her down. Instead of sulking, she's showing up, smiling, and proving that she's not going anywhere.