Why Angelina's mother was a role model

Angelina Jolie has rarely been in a film which does not accentuate her tough persona, straight talking and supreme confidence.But fighting back the tears, the 33-year-old actress credits the memory of her late mother Marcheline Bertrand with giving her the strength to take on her role in her new film Changeling, which opens at Shropshire cinemas this weekend.

Directed by Clint Eastwood, the movie - already being tipped as an Oscar contender - tells the true story of Christine Collins, her missing son and the Wineville Chicken Coop murders of 1928.

Jolie plays Collins, a single mother in 1920s Los Angeles who is confronted with every parent's worst nightmare when her son is kidnapped - and is forced to take on a corrupt police department and the law in her desperate battle to be reunited with her child.

She admits her character's strength grew from the close relationship she shared with her own mother before losing her to cancer in January 2007.

"My mum was just the softest and most gentle woman in the world," she tells me.

"She was really, really sweet. She would never get angry. She couldn't swear to save her life. But when it came to her kids, she was really, really fierce. So this is very much her, and her story, and she was the woman I related to - who had the elegance and strength, knowing what was right."

The devoted mother-of-six, who plans to quit acting to concentrate on raising her family, confesses that when she first picked up the script she was in two minds about accepting the role because of the harrowing nature of the story.

"It was a very hard film for all of us to make," she says.

"This woman went through so much. When I read the script I couldn't put it down, but I said 'no', immediately. I didn't want to do this project because it was too upsetting.

"But then I couldn't stop talking about her - this extraordinary woman - about what happened to her and what people did to her in this time in history, suffering a great loss, but fighting through it to make a change.

"I found it very inspiring in the end. To make this film and show people what had happened to her - it was an extra piece of history.

"As a mum it was horrible. I had my kids with me. I found myself being goofy and silly, being happy knowing my kids were safe," she adds, revealing that her four-month-old twins Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon are sleeping soundly upstairs at Claridges as we chat in a downstairs suite at the London hotel.

Fighting for something passionately is not unfamiliar to the American actress, who since early 2001 has travelled the world as a United Nations goodwill ambassador to help refugees.

"When I first went to Sierra Leone, I remember sitting at the airport and talking to my mum on the phone about it. I think refugee families are exceptional - and survivors," she says.

It is the first time Jolie has teamed up with Eastwood - and anyone who has worked with the 78-year-old actor-director knows they have to come prepared.

He is famous for shooting just one or two takes of each scene, and while this may be terrifying for an actor, Jolie concedes it rouses a better performance.

"You know he is going to drive you emotionally. It does allow for you to really push yourself, and because he only does one take, everything is fresh," she says.

"I have always wanted to work with him. I had seen and read different things about him. He seemed like just an interesting man. He is great with his crew. He is one of those very fair and strong leaders. He is very decisive."

So what next for the screen beauty? Can we assume from her recent revelations about an early retirement that she has plans to expand her family unit?

"I am sure you can," she grins in response.

Her plan is to maybe make one film a year, and then one every two years before she draws a line under her acting career.

When she is not filming or involved in any charity work, she spends most of her time at home with the children and husband Brad Pitt.

"I have a big family and I have a responsibility at home and I have the good fortune of not having to work all the time," she continues.

"I don't watch a lot of TV, but I tend to be in my pyjamas and do a lot of colouring with the kids.

"We are deciding what to do for Christmas. We are obviously exhausted but we love it - sitting up in the middle of the night and wrapping the presents and doing the stockings.

"I am very pleased to have healthy children and a great partner. We are having such a wonderful time raising our children together. There is a lot of love in our home."