December 7, 2024: Angelina Jolie made a memorable return to the talk-show circuit with her first appearance in a decade on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The Maria actress arrived in a flowing black gown, making a bold fashion statement by walking barefoot across the stage of Studio 6B at Rockefeller Center.
When host Jimmy Fallon pointed out her lack of shoes, he jokingly asked, “Did you forget your shoes?” to which Jolie humorously responded, “No, I broke my toe yesterday, and I tried to find a comfortable shoe, but I just decided to not.”
While seated beside Fallon, Jolie kept her bare feet on display, with her toenails painted dark. The moment was unexpected but added to her effortlessly chic aura. During the interview, she opened up about feeling out of her comfort zone, admitting that talk shows make her nervous. “I get very nervous on talk shows. I get very uncomfortable, and I haven’t done one for, like, a decade. This is so not my thing,” she revealed candidly.
Jolie, who shares six children with ex-husband Brad Pitt—Maddox (23), Pax (21), Zahara (19), Shiloh (18), and twins Knox and Vivienne (16)—also spoke about her children’s desire for privacy. She shared that while some of her kids might be interested in working behind the scenes, Shiloh, in particular, values privacy. “They really, really want to be—especially Shiloh—they want to be private,” Jolie explained. “Just private, not photographed, not on the thing. I think, her most of all, would like privacy.”
When Fallon remarked that the family’s fame must make privacy challenging, Jolie agreed, but added, “But it wasn’t their choice. So some people are more comfortable with public, some people are more comfortable with talk shows.” She emphasized that none of her children currently wish to be in the public eye. “None of my children want to be in front of the camera at this time. They’re quite private,” she said, noting that Shiloh, in particular, values her privacy.
Jolie elaborated on the complexities of growing up in the spotlight: “They weren’t born with privacy, right? So, I hope that they can have that as they grow old. So we’ll see.”
Her appearance on the show was in promotion of her new film, Maria, directed by Pablo Larrain, in which she portrays the legendary opera singer Maria Callas. The film has garnered rave reviews, including standing ovations at both the Venice International Film Festival and the Telluride Film Festival, further solidifying Jolie’s reputation as a versatile and powerful actress.
Jolie’s appearance on The Tonight Show was a mix of heartfelt moments and lighthearted banter, giving fans a rare glimpse into her personal life and thoughts, especially about her children’s wishes for privacy in a world of constant media attention.
