Angelina Jolie has revealed she "feared for her whole family's safety" while married to Brad Pitt, admitting her high-profile divorce was "traumatic" and left her feeling "broken".
In an interview with The Guardian, Jolie spoke about Know Your Rights, the book she has written with child rights lawyer Geraldine Van Bueren QC and Amnesty International as a guide for young people.
The Maleficent star said as well as speaking with many children who "live with the effects of their rights being violated", she also had "an experience in the [United] States with her own children".
When pressed about what made her fear for the rights of her children, Jolie replied: "I... I'm still in my own legal situation, I can't speak about that."
According to the interviewer Simon Hattenstone, she went on to nod 'yes' when asked if she was referring to her divorce from Pitt and the allegations of domestic abuse made against him.
Hattenstone then asked the actress if she feared for the safety of her children, to which she responded: "Yes, for my family. My whole family."
"I'm not the kind of person who makes decisions like the decisions I had to make lightly," Jolie said. "It took a lot for me to be in a position where I felt I had to separate from the father of my children."
In 2016, Pitt was reportedly cleared of child abuse allegations by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, after he was investigated for an alleged incident between him and his son Maddox aboard a private jet.
Jolie told the Guardian there was "a lot she couldn't say", but admitting the past decade had left her feeling "broken".
"I think at the end of the day, even if you and a few people you love are the only people who know the truth of your life, what you fight for, or what you sacrifice, or what you've suffered, you come to be at peace with that, regardless of everything going on around you."
Jolie also revealed it was "hard for her" when her then husband chose to work with Harvey Weinstein.
Pitt starred in Quentin Tarantino's 2009 film Inglourious Basterds, which was executive produced by Weinstein before he was convicted for rape some years later.
Jolie claimed she had to "escape from" Weinstein when he attempted to assault her when she was young.
"I stayed away and warned people about him. I remember telling Jonny, my first husband, who was great about it, to spread the word to other guys - don't let girls go alone with him," she said.
"I was asked to do The Aviator, but I said no because he was involved. I never associated or worked with him again. It was hard for me when Brad did."
