Angelina Jolie is used to making dramatic decisions in front of and behind the camera. One of her closest decisions was during Maleficent’s (2014) filming when she cast daughter Vivienne Jolie-Pitt in the role of young Princess Aurora. People assumed that nepotism was in play, but a more practical explanation existed.
Jolie’s transformation to Maleficent, horns, intense stare, and black robes, was intimidating to a great many of the child actors competing for the role. Most of them were too afraid to approach her in character, making it difficult to find a good fit. Vivienne was not intimidated, though, having been used to having her mother dressed up in elaborate outfits, so she was not intimidated by Maleficent’s darker appearances. Thanks to this exposure, she was the perfect candidate to provide a natural and realistic portrayal in the film.
One of the most memorable scenes in Maleficent is when Aurora enters the forest and approaches Maleficent without hesitation. This is the beginning of a complex yet endearing relationship between characters. Because Vivienne felt comfortable around her mother, the scene was natural and deepened the emotional impact of the film.
Although Vivienne felt at home with her mother, getting on a film set for the first time was a challenge in itself. In one scene, she was asked to catch a butterfly, and it took a bit of prodding to get her to do it naturally. Jolie, Brad Pitt, and their other children provided encouragement throughout the process. Jolie even made funny faces between camera shots to get Vivienne to feel more relaxed and at home.
For Jolie, Maleficent was more than a film—it was a personal project. Casting Vivienne solved a casting problem and added a new level of authenticity to the film. It was a chance for Jolie to combine her love of storytelling with motherhood, making the film even more personal to her.
Reflecting on the experience, Jolie said it was also memorable for her daughter.
“It made the film that much more personal and more meaningful,”
she said. The casting decision also highlighted a mother’s love and a child’s willingness to adjust to something new, proving that sometimes decisions that work best are heart-based.
