ISLAMABAD: American actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie expressed deep concern over the state of free expression in the United States, saying she no longer "recognizes" her country.
Her remarks came during the presentation of her latest film at Spain’s San Sebastián Film Festival on Sunday.
“I love my country, but I don’t at this time recognize my country,” Jolie said, when asked whether she feared for freedom of speech in the US.
She emphasized the importance of safeguarding personal freedoms, adding, “Anything, anywhere, that divides or limits personal expression and freedoms is very dangerous.”
Though Jolie did not reference any specific incident, her comments followed widespread controversy over Disney-owned ABC's decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show from its schedule indefinitely.
The move came after Kimmel criticized President Donald Trump and commented on the recent killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, remarks that reportedly led Nexstar Media to preempt broadcasts of the show.
The decision sparked backlash from across Hollywood. Celebrities including Mark Ruffalo, Pedro Pascal, Olivia Rodrigo, and Tatiana Maslany denounced what they described as a growing crackdown on critical voices in media.
Ruffalo accused the government of suppressing free speech, while Pascal urged the public to actively defend democratic values.
Jolie, who has headlined major Disney films such as Maleficent and Eternals, appeared careful not to single out any one incident, instead drawing attention to a broader cultural shift that, in her view, threatens individual liberties.
“These are very, very heavy times we are living in together,” she said.
Promoting “Couture” at San Sebastián
Jolie was in San Sebastián to promote Couture, directed by French filmmaker Alice Winocour. The film, which is in competition for the festival’s top prize, the Golden Shell, follows Maxine Walker, an American film director facing divorce and a life-altering illness during Paris Fashion Week.
Jolie said she found the role deeply personal, having undergone a double mastectomy and preventive surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes after discovering she carries the BRCA1 gene, the same mutation that led to the deaths of her mother and grandmother.
Visibly emotional, she shared that her late mother was often on her mind during filming.
