Angelina Jolie has claimed that she was “broken” before accepting her recent film role.

In Those Who Wish Me Dead, Jolie is a force to be reckoned with, wielding an axe.

During a recent Access interview to promote the picture, the 45-year-old actress was asked why she is drawn to playing damaged people who have gone through something. She said it’s because it is a therapeutic process for her. Jolie said she needs Hannah Faber from the movie in her real life.

Angelina plays a veteran smokejumper. She noted that her character has gone through a lot while discussing her part.

She stated that her character in the film is “closer to her than some of her other characters.”

The Eternals star explained to the Australian breakfast show, “What was weird is, I am American, but I realized how I don’t often play American. So doing this very regular, American woman suddenly felt more challenging than even a crazy Maleficent.”

Hannah, her character, is still hurting from the failure to save three people from a fire when she stumbles across Connor, a frightened 12-year-old child played by Finn Little.

She assists him in fleeing as he is pursued by two assassins, portrayed by Nicholas Hoult and Aidan Gillen, after a deadly attack on his father, and the pair face lightning storms and a massive blazing flame in an attempt to evade them.

Angelina addressed her own recent personal troubles.

“I felt a little beaten up in my own life, as we all do at times and I felt like I wasn’t holding myself together and I felt a little broken and the idea of just getting through the fire, just getting through the damn fire,” Jolie admitted before adding, “Whatever it takes, with everything coming at you, get through it and so when you feel that way as a person and you have the great opportunity to have a piece of art that you can manifest that experience and that growth through a character.”

The actor went on to say that she has accepted whatever has come her way and believes in getting over the grief and moving on while concentrating on her career. Angelina was excited to play the part since she could show the character’s growth and experience. The performer went on to say that she had to really walk through flames, which was exceedingly hot and difficult. But towards the end, the crew felt they had accomplished something significant. She noted that they were filming in New Mexico with elevated fire in the forest and difficult-to-obtain water, but that their efforts paid off in the end.

She added; “What was weird is, I am American, but I realised how I don’t often play American. So doing this very regular, American woman suddenly felt more challenging than even a crazy Maleficent.”

Jolie told the PA news agency: “I think we all have times in our lives where we just feel broken. And I’m certainly one of those people. And so I came into this not feeling strong at all, and not knowing if I had it even in me to pull through this.

“And, like everybody, I carry my own trauma, my own grief, different things that have happened in my life.

“And so it was very cathartic. Can I pull myself through? Can I pull the child through it? Can I can I get to the other end of this? Am I strong enough? Am I stable enough?”

Angelina Jolie’s latest film Those Who Wish Me Dead stars Nicholas Hoult, Finn Little, Aidan Gillen, Medina Senghore, Tyler Perry, Jake Weber, and Jon Bernthal in a neo-Western survival action thriller. Koryta’s novel of the same name inspired the film. On May 5, 2021, Those Who Wish Me Dead will be released in South Korea.