Angelina Jolie has revealed her double mastectomy scars publicly for the first time, more than a decade after undergoing surgery.
The Oscar-winning actor, now 50, posed for a photoshoot with Time France to raise awareness about breast cancer. The images appear on the magazine’s first-ever cover issue.
Jolie showed her bare chest, revealing scars from her preventative surgery in 2013.
The actor said the decision was motivated by solidarity with other women affected by breast cancer. “I share these scars with many women I love,” Jolie told the magazine in an interview published Monday.
“I’m always moved when I see other women share theirs.” She explained that she wanted to join them while supporting Time France in sharing information about breast health.
“I wanted to join them, knowing that TIME France would be sharing information about breast health, prevention and knowledge about breast cancer,” she added.
The photoshoot was released as part of the magazine’s launch and coincided with wider discussions about cancer prevention.
Jolie said visibility and education remain critical for women facing health decisions.
Online reaction and public response
The magazine cover prompted widespread praise across social media platforms shortly after its release. Many users highlighted Jolie’s influence beyond her film career.
One fan wrote on X: “Angelina jolie is the perfect choice for a cover story, she embodies strength and compassion.”
Others echoed similar sentiments about her impact.
Another commenter wrote: “A fitting choice for a first cover, she’s one of those rare figures whose influence goes well beyond film.”
A third added: “Angelina looks absolutely ethereal here. Iconic! Nathaniel Goldberg captured her well.”
The response focused on both the message behind the cover and its visual presentation.
Jolie underwent a double mastectomy after losing her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, to breast and ovarian cancer in 2007.
Following her mother’s death, Jolie tested positive for a mutation in the BRCA1 gene. Doctors told her the mutation significantly increased her risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers.
In response, Jolie chose to have both breasts removed as a preventative measure. Two years later, she also had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed.
The procedures were carried out to reduce her cancer risk as much as possible. Her decision drew global attention at the time and sparked broader discussion about genetic testing.
Medical decisions and lasting impact
Jolie’s choice led to what became known as the “Angelina Jolie effect.” Health experts reported an immediate increase in breast cancer screenings following her public disclosure.
More women sought genetic testing and information about preventative surgeries. The actor’s openness was credited with encouraging informed discussions between patients and doctors.
“Every woman should always be able to determine her own healthcare journey and have the information she needs to make informed choices,” Jolie told Time France.
She added that access to medical resources should not be limited. Jolie said genetic testing and screenings should be affordable for women with known risk factors.
“Genetic testing and screening should be accessible and affordable for women with clear risk factors or a significant family history,” she said.
Jolie appears on the cover while promoting Alice Winocour’s film Coutures, set for release in February. In the film, she plays a filmmaker diagnosed with breast cancer.
Likeliness of her getting cancer
Jolie previously detailed her medical decisions in an essay for The New York Times. She wrote that doctors initially estimated her breast cancer risk at 87 percent.
Her estimated risk of ovarian cancer was placed at 50 percent.
“My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under five percent,” she wrote at the time.
“I can tell my children that they don’t need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer.” Jolie is a mother of six children.
“I went through what I imagine thousands of other women have felt,” she continued.
“I told myself to stay calm, to be strong, and that I had no reason to think I wouldn’t live to see my children grow up and to meet my grandchildren.”
Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States.
About one in eight American women will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime.
Featured image credit: Time France
