While her life off the screen has always been a headline-grabbing story, Angelina Jolie has always been a talented actress who could take on intense roles and deliver strong performances. The actress won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Girl, interrupted, and was nominated several times for the Golden Globes.

A role that earned her both a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination was Clint Eastwood’s historical drama, ChangelingHowever, Jolie was reportedly not too keen on the role, as it involves a mother who loses her child. Even after Eastwood convinced her, she reportedly found it difficult to come home to her children after the role.

Angelina Jolie was terrified of playing Christine Collins in Clint Eastwood’s film. Changeling

Clint Eastwood’s Changeling examines the true story of Christine Collins, a mother whose search for her missing son garners national attention due to the ineptitude of the police department. After searching for her son Walter, the police department reportedly found a boy in Illinois claiming to be Walter, but after they were reunited, it turned out to be a hoax.

However, the police captain reportedly tried to convince Christine to “give the boy a chance” and then even had her committed to a mental hospital. However, the boy’s confession and Walter’s connection to the Wineville Chicken Coop murders saved her. Collins searched for her son until her death (via Crime Museum).

Angeline Jolie was reportedly initially unenthusiastic about the role, fearing how it might affect her own mental health as a mother of several children. During the film’s press tour, she reportedly mentioned that she was hesitant about taking on the role.

(The idea of) something happening to your kids… (That was) the reason I didn’t want to do the movie for a long time. I read (the script) and I wanted to keep it as far away from me as possible. But it’s also a great story about justice, and I love the movie. But no, every day on set, I came home and I was so attached to my kids. I think I annoyed them.

The actress also mentioned that sometimes she would even check on her children in the middle of the night and that the role caused her a lot of anxiety.

Angelina Jolie compared Christine Collins to her mother

Angelina Jolie has spoken about her relationship with her mother on several occasions. She has talked about several moments she shared with her mother when her parents were splitting up. She even mentioned that her mother let her stay with her first boyfriend when she was fourteen, saying that the relationship felt like a marriage (via Calgary Sun).

About her role as Christine Collins in the Clint Eastwood film ChangelingThe actress compared the character’s determination and relentlessness to her own mother. She said:

This is personal, but it’s true. I lost my mother a few months before the film, and to me (Christine) is a lot like my mother. My mother was very passive in many ways and very, very sweet, but when it came to her children, she was a lion. But as a woman, she was very shy, almost in her own voice.

Jolie was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her role in the film.

Changeling is currently available to stream on Starz.