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Angelina Jolie really wants an Oscar for Unbroken: 'It would mean a great deal to me'

The Louis Zamperini film reaches UK cinemas on Boxing Day this year

Jess Denham
Wednesday 26 November 2014 14:38 GMT
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It would 'mean a great deal' to Angelina Jolie if she won the best director Oscar for Unbroken
It would 'mean a great deal' to Angelina Jolie if she won the best director Oscar for Unbroken

Angelina Jolie has spoken about her desire to take home an Oscar for latest movie Unbroken, about the late Louis Zamperini.

The Hollywood actress won a gold statuette for her role in Girl, Interrupted, but that was 14 years ago now and she wants a nod for her directing skills.

“I love directing and most of all I felt very responsible to this story and this man’s life,” the 39-year-old told Metro at Unbroken’s premiere, adding that an Oscar would “mean a great deal” to her.

Jolie also addressed the lack of female directors in Hollywood, saying that she hopes there will be “many, many more”.

“I’m sure there will be,” she said. “There are a few other female directors I am close to and there is a nice camaraderie between us.”

Kathryn Bigelow became the first female to win a best director Oscar in 2009 for The Hurt Locker.

Kathryn Bigelow accepting her best director Oscar

Unbroken is based on the true story of Olympic runner Zamperini, who spent 47 day on a raft at sea after a plane crash, before being captured by the Japanese forces and held as a prisoner of war.

Jack O’Connell stars in the lead in Unbroken, after Jolie personally picked him for the role. Domhnall Gleeson, Garrett Hedlund and Jai Courtney also feature, while Joel and Ethan Coen penned the screenplay.

It sounds like Unbroken will be an intense viewing experience, after one of Jolie’s actors threw up and “couldn’t stop crying” during filming.

Miyavi, the Japanese pop star who stars as cruel sergeant Matsuhiro Watanabe, spoke about immersing himself into the mindset of a man accustomed to and desensitised by violence.

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“It’s a story that is still painful for my country,” he told Vanity Fair. “It was awful torture for me to hate the other actors. I had to have hatred for them. When I had to beat them, I had to think about protecting my family.”

The real Zamperini died aged 97 in July, but Jolie was sure to show him an early cut of Unbroken before he passed away.

Angelina Jolie and Louis Zamperini before his death last summer

“I was more emotional than he was,” she said. “I went in to take care of him and he was taking care of me. It was an extremely moving experience, to watch someone watching their own life.”

Jodie is currently directing her husband Brad Pitt on indie romantic drama By The Sea, about a married couple going through some difficulties.

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