Angelina Jolie expresses concern over 'heavy times' and 'division' in the US
The acclaimed actress, speaking at the San Sebastián Film Festival, stated she no longer 'recognizes' her country amid what she described as 'very heavy times' impacting personal freedoms.
22 sept 2025 - 13:21 • 3 min read
Angelina Jolie, the Oscar-winning actress and director, has voiced profound concern over the current state of the United States, stating that she no longer "recognizes" her country due to divisions and limitations on personal expression and freedoms.
Speaking at the San Sebastián Film Festival in Spain on Sunday, Jolie responded to a journalist's question about her fears as an artist and an American. "I love my country, but at this time, I don't recognise my country," she said, as reported by The Guardian. "My worldview is equal, united and international. Anything anywhere that divides or limits personal expressions and freedoms from anyone, I think, is very dangerous."
Jolie's comments come in the wake of growing discussions around freedom of speech in the US. While she did not explicitly name any individuals or events, her remarks followed the reported suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel's show by ABC. Sources indicate this suspension was related to comments made by Kimmel concerning the aftermath of activist Charlie Kirk's fatal shooting and the subsequent political commentary surrounding it.
The actress emphasized the gravity of the current period, stating, "These are such serious times that we have to be careful not to say things casually. These are very, very heavy times we are living in together."
Jolie, who has a history of international involvement and advocacy, highlighted her global perspective. "I've always lived internationally, my family is international, my friends, my life," she explained.
Several prominent figures in Hollywood, including actors Mark Ruffalo, Pedro Pascal, and Tatiana Maslany, have publicly expressed dissent regarding the perceived suppression of free speech and criticized decisions to suspend or censor content. Ruffalo, in particular, has stated that the US government is actively suppressing freedom of speech, drawing parallels to authoritarian regimes.
During her time at the San Sebastián festival, Jolie was also promoting the film "Couture," in which she portrays a character facing a breast cancer diagnosis. The actress, who herself underwent a double mastectomy in 2013 due to a high risk of cancer, spoke about the importance of portraying women's health journeys on screen. She noted that her character's experience in the film, which parallels her own personal battles with cancer and loss within her family, has been a "healing" creative process.
Despite her emotional connection to the film and her personal experiences, Jolie's pronouncements on the state of her country have drawn significant attention, underscoring a widespread sentiment of unease and concern among some public figures regarding the current sociopolitical climate.