Actress Angelina Jolie was only 27 years old when she adopted the Cambodian boy Maddox. Angelina calls her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren a “gift” and considers all adopted 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren a “beautiful mystery”.
After going to Cambodia to film The Secret of the Ancient Tomb and taking on the role of a goodwill ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie began to fall in love with this beautiful country. The actress said that her first trip to Cambodia changed her life, making her acutely aware of the global refugee crisis and with it opening her doors to the opportunity to become a mother.
In 2002, at the age of 27, Jolie adopted her first 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥, Maddox Chivan, who was then 7 months old and was living in an orphanage in Battambang, Cambodia. Jolie single-handedly adopted Maddox and she became a single mother after she split from then-husband Billy Bob Thornton.
Angelina Jolie and her adopted son Maddox in Cambodia (Photo: This is Chris White).
Angelina Jolie once said: “In 2001, when I was participating in a school program in Samlout, Cambodia. I was sitting on the floor with a small 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 and I felt like my son was here. Some next month I met little Maddox at an orphanage. I can’t explain it and I’m not a believer in messages or superstitions. But it’s just a stark fact.” Angelina then went on to adopt two more 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren, a son Pax Jolie-Pitt, from Vietnam, and a daughter, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, from Ethiopia. She also has three biological 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren with her third husband Brad Pitt.
Angelina Jolie was just 27 years old when she adopted Maddox (Image: This is Chris White).
Sarath Mounh, a friend of Angelina Jolie in Cambodia, assisted the Hollywood star in adopting Maddox. Angie then had a difficult time adopting, and Sarath helped her by acting as Maddox’s father on court documents. Maddox has been added to Sarath’s family profile and is his third 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥.
The fact that Maddox has a Cambodian father helped Angelina Jolie overcome many of the difficult legal issues she faced when adopting the boy as a foreigner. Sarath then signed a document for Angie to adopt Maddox from him.
Sarath Mounh (right) and Angelina Jolie (Photo: This is Chris White).
Mr. Sarath said: “Angelina Jolie said that there are still many 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren in the world that need good care, need a better life. At that time, she wanted to be a mother and felt better than being a mother of one. The 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 is in dire need of care, that’s why she decided to adopt.
Maddox is smart, shrewd, a lovable kid who laughs at people more than any other kid. I will always remember his smiling face.
Mr. Sarath said that when Jolie visited the orphanage and saw Maddox, he smiled at her and stood up, instead of crying like all the other 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren. “Maddox smiled as soon as she saw Angelina Jolie, it touched her heart, that’s why she chose Maddox,” Mr Sarath said.
Angelina Jolie is happy to be a mother (Photo: This is Chris White).
Sarath has no regrets helping Angie by becoming Maddox’s father. They became friends after Sarath’s nonprofit worked with the Maddox Jolie Pitt foundation on conservation issues.
Sarath said: “The problem of 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 trafficking in Cambodia was very bad at the time, a lot of legal issues needed to be resolved and Angelina didn’t want to make a mistake. As a friend, I helped out. Angelina Jolie deals with legal issues.”
Angelina Jolie once took her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren to Cambodia to attend the premiere of her movie First They Killed My Father in 2017. The famous actress said: “We have been going back and forth here for the past 17 years. I feel the place. This is like my second home. My 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren have a close relationship with the kids here, many of them are their best friends. Maddox is very happy to be back in his country.”
Angelina Jolie carries her son Maddox for a walk (Photo: Backgrid).
Sarath added: “We Cambodians are proud and happy that Maddox grew up in such a good living environment. Many other people don’t have that opportunity. We want him back to his homeland. and learn about her cultural roots.Angelina Jolie has planned to return as often as possible, which will be Maddox’s second home.
Maddox grew up in a modern life, if he can contribute to his hometown, that would be great. Maddox is a lucky boy compared to a lot of people in Cambodia. It would be nice if he came back and helped the community.”
Maddox is now 21 years old. The young man still occasionally appears with his mother in entertainment industry events. Angelina Jolie’s eldest 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 studied biochemistry at Yonsei University, Korea. In 2019, Angelina Jolie once attracted the attention of the public when bringing her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren to Korea to study. The actress said that she is proud of her son studying at this famous university and she tries not to cry when she has to leave him.
Maddox attended the event with his mother Angelina Jolie (Image: Getty Images).
The Oscar-winning actress said that no matter how you have 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren, through adoption or 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡, each has a wonderful opportunity to be a family.
“I adopted a 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 intentionally. When I was an adult, I wanted to adopt because I knew that there were 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren without parents. It was not a humanitarian thing and I did not consider it. It’s a sacrifice. It’s a gift,” Jolie said.
Angelina insists that phrases like “adoption” and “orphanage” are positive words in her home. “With my adopted 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren, I can’t talk about pregnancy but I do talk in detail and with delight about my journey to finding them and what it feels like to look them in the eye for the first time.
All adopted 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren carry a beautiful mystery. They have an origin that you don’t have. Honor them, learn from them. It is the greatest journey to share. They are not entering your world, but both parties are entering each other’s world and are lucky to have each other,” Angelina Jolie confided.
Soυrce: dailyмail
