More than nine months after the highly publicized divorce, actress-director Angelina Jolie is finally breaking her silence over her separation with Brad Pitt. In Vanity Fair’s September 2017 issue, cover girl Jolie sheds some light on her life post-split, about both her children and her reconciliation with her dad and her health.

Jolie’s exclusive post-divorce interview came after Pitt’s own tell-all, which was published in GQ magazine in May. Despite the fact that the ex-couple has decided to do their own post-split interview versions, the terms and details of their divorce are still kept under wraps.

Focusing on her children

Since filing for divorce in September 2016, Angelina Jolie went through a painful journey. However, taking care of six kids — Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, Knox, and Vivienne — forced her to push her emotions aside until she could have a moment on her own.

During her interview, the 42-year-old actress told Vanity Fair that the well-being of her children is her top priority since the divorce. She also stressed the importance of crying “in the shower” and not letting her kids witness any breakdown moment.

Jolie added that during the tough times, she made sure that her kids know that “everything’s going to be alright,” despite the uncertainties. She also underscored the fact that, at times, women with “families put themselves last.”

Tough times

Even though the details of the divorce remained a secret, Jolie admitted that “things were tense” between her and Pitt.

But it wasn’t until last summer that “things got difficult” between the ex-couple, especially during the post-production for her “First They Killed My Father” movie, E! News noted.

Since filing a divorce, Jolie faced a series of ordeals, one of which was letting her children lived in a “rental home out of suitcases” for nine months.

The “Maleficent” star admitted that it was “the hardest time” for them.

Fortunately, Jolie and her children are finally in the process of healing after the actress bought a $25 million mansion in Los Angeles. She said the house is a “big jump forward” for them and the family is really trying their best to heal.

The mother-of-six, however, stressed that her family is not healing from the divorce, but from the “events” that led to the process. Despite the rumors claiming that Brangelina’s lifestyle was the reason of their marital breakdown, Jolie dispelled the speculations, saying their lifestyle was “not the problem and was not in any way a negative.”

Health

As Jolie faced the challenging issues that spawned from the separation, the physical, psychological, and emotional stresses also took a toll on her health.

In fact, the “By the Sea” actress took notice of her drier skin and gray hairs. She also revealed her battle with Bell’s palsy, a condition that affects the facial nerves causing one side of the face to droop, and hypertension last year.

Reconnecting with her father

Apart from her health and children, Jolie also reconciled with her estranged father, Jon Voight. Despite what they went through, Jolie said her father understood that her kids need a grandfather, especially after the divorce. She also had some good words towards her dad, who she claims to be a “cool and creative” grandfather who hangs out and tells stories to her children.