Angelina Jolie — Hollywood icon, humanitarian, and one of the most photographed actresses in the world — has shared many chapters of her life with the public. From blockbuster films like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Eternals to her global advocacy work, she’s often perceived as nearly indefatigable. But behind that public persona lies a deeply human story of struggle, pain, and ultimately, survival. One of the most shocking and personal revelations from Jolie’s past involves a moment when she almost hired a hitman to kill herself — and how a single question from that person led her to stay alive.
A Hollywood Life Shadowed By Inner Turmoil
Angelina Jolie’s life hasn’t always been defined by success and acclaim. Long before she became a global superstar, she faced emotional challenges that few people outside her closest circle knew about. In her youth, Jolie grappled with depression, self‑harm, and feelings of isolation — struggles that continued into her early adulthood.
During interviews in the early 2000s, Jolie spoke openly about how difficult the period was for her. The pressures of emerging fame, unresolved personal issues, and inner turmoil led her down a dark path that nearly ended in tragedy.
The Shocking Confession
In a 2001 interview — later discussed again in 2003 — Jolie revealed one of the most startling decisions she ever considered. “This is going to sound insane,” she said, “but there was a time I was going to hire somebody to kill me.”
Yes — the Oscar‑winning actress said she actually sought out a hitman to take her life.
The reasoning, as she explained it, stemmed from her concern over how loved ones would react to a suicide. Jolie believed that if someone else was responsible for killing her — as in a robbery or a murder by another person — then her family and friends wouldn’t carry the same guilt associated with her intentional suicide.
“I was very aware that so many people around me, like my mother, would feel as though they didn’t give enough or do enough if I’d taken my own life,” she said. “So my solution to that was if someone else had taken my life — like in a ‘robbery’ — then it would be murder and it wouldn’t be that anyone would feel they’d let me down.”
To her, this seemed like an unorthodox solution to avoid burdening her loved ones with guilt — and it underscored just how bleak and desperate she felt at the time.
How a Question Changed Everything
But here’s the twist: Jolie didn’t follow through with the plan.
After contacting the hitman, he asked her a simple but profound question: Could she take some time to think about it and perhaps call him back in two months?
That unexpected request — from someone she believed would help her end her life — forced Jolie to pause and reflect.
Why would a person whose profession involved violence ask her to reconsider? Why would he respond with a suggestion of patience rather than agreement?
Those questions alone opened a space for Jolie to pause. Rather than seeing everything as over, she found at least two more months in which to rethink her choice — and in those months, something within her shifted.
She later explained, “Something changed in my life and I figured I’d stick it out.”
The Broader Struggle Behind the Story
Angelina Jolie’s admission isn’t a sensational tabloid anecdote — it’s a brutally honest account of how mental health struggles can affect even those who seem to have everything. Many people assume that fame, wealth, or success protects someone from despair. But as Jolie’s story reveals, internal pain often has nothing to do with external achievement.
In later years, Jolie confronted other challenges — including a nervous breakdown at age 24 — but also found sources of strength and stability. Her children became a major part of her recovery and sense of purpose, and she continued to build a life of meaning beyond her struggles.
In interviews, she has said, “I went through heavier, darker times and I survived them.”
A Message of Hope and Resilience
What makes Jolie’s story significant isn’t just the shocking nature of her confession — it’s the way she turned away from that darkest moment and continued forward.
Today, she is not only an award‑winning actress but also a global humanitarian, mother, and advocate. Her willingness to speak publicly about her past struggles — including suicidal thoughts and extreme emotional distress — helps shine a light on the importance of mental‑health awareness, compassion, and seeking help.
Her experience resonates with millions of people around the world who have faced similar thoughts and emotions, reminding them they are not alone — and that there is hope beyond the pain.
Final Thoughts: A Life Saved by a Question
In the end, Angelina Jolie’s story isn’t merely about hiring a hitman — it’s about survival, second chances, and the unpredictable ways life can shift. In her darkest hour, an unexpected question gave her a moment to pause. And in that pause came the possibility of a different tomorrow.
If her story teaches us anything, it’s this: sometimes all it takes is one moment of hesitation — one question — to change the entire course of a life. And that’s a reminder worth holding onto.
If you are struggling with thoughts of self‑harm or suicide, please seek help immediately. In many countries, you can call or text a crisis hotline for support. You are not alone.
The article I provided earlier is based on publicly available information about Angelina Jolie‘s past struggles with mental health, including the claim that she once contemplated hiring a hitman to kill her. This information comes from various interviews and stories shared by Jolie herself, particularly in interviews during the early 2000s, where she openly discussed her mental health struggles, depression, and suicidal thoughts. These details were made public by Jolie in several media outlets, including interviews with major publications like Time Magazine and Vanity Fair.
However, please note that while there are public records about her personal challenges, there have been no verified claims or credible reports that explicitly confirm she hired a hitman or attempted to follow through with it. The story in the article was built around her sharing her difficult past during interviews, but it’s important to approach such details carefully, as they were discussed in the context of her larger personal struggles.