Angelina Jolie on Life in Quarantine with Her Kids, Plus: Her New Movie ‘The One and Only Ivan’

Angelina Jolie's new movie “The One and Only Ivan” is debuting on Disney+ this week. Angelina was a producer on the film, and also voices Stella the Elephant alongside co-star Brooklyn Prince, who provides the voice for a baby elephant named Ruby.

“Extra's” Jenn Lahmers caught up with the co-stars to find out more about the film, which was adapted from a novel by Katherine Applegate. Angelina also opened up about her life in quarantine with her six kids, and her concerns for other children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jolie's eldest son Maddox, 19, was attending Yonsei University in South Korea, but now he's studying online from home. Angie told Jenn, “He had to stay back from Korea. He's going online, and so I think he starts at 6 p.m. at night.”

She's also mom to Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, Shiloh, 14, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 11, and told Jenn, “They're all together and it's a nice big bunch, so everybody's helping each other out. We're lucky.”

The actress and activist is aware that everyone isn't as lucky during these trying times. “My biggest concern actually during the pandemic is children,” she said. “There was a 40% drop-off of hearing reports of abuse of children and what that means is that those like the teachers who recognize what is happening to the child and can report it cannot see the child so domestic violence is a very big concern during this time.” Jolie added, “Humanity always comes forward in times like this.”

She is helping to bring an uplifting message with “The One and Only Ivan.” The film follows a 400-lb. gorilla named Ivan with artistic abilities and an aging elephant named Stella who live at the Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. Life starts to change after the arrival of baby elephant Ruby.

Jolie shared what drew her to the project, saying, “Well, Shiloh read the book and we started reading it together and talked about Ivan and why Ivan was so special.”

Brooklyn told Jenn the moral of the story, “The moral of the story is to keep your promises.” Angelina added, “I think a lot of people can also relate to that. Where there's expectations on them to be what people assume they are and they don't often have the friends or freedom to express who they really are... and be that person.”

Jenn asked, “I'm wondering has that happened in your own life?” Angelina replied, “I'm pretty much who I am because I don't know how to be anything else… but if you asked me, 'Do I think people really know me as who I really am?' I think only my children could explain who I am, really.”