Spotlight: Angelina Jolie

With her sexy pout, beautiful eyes and a gold mine of talent, Angelina Jolie has played a variety of roles: from the action heroine of 'Tomb Raider' to the "powerfully meek" widow of 'The Mighty Heart'. She will be seen next in 'Salt', to be released on July 23, 2010. Known to be one of the world's most beautiful women, Angelina Jolie will once again charm the screens,  with 'Salt', on July 23, 2010; she will be playing a Russian spy in the movie. Angelina Jolie Voight was born on June 4, 1975, to actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. Angelina began modelling at the age of 14. She also appeared in several music videos, including "Rock & Roll Dreams Come Through" (by Meat Loaf) and "It's About Time" (by the Lemonheads). She then suddenly quit acting, modelling and theatre, and started dreaming about "becoming a funeral director". She also changed her lifestyle, became a punk, and started living in with her boyfriend. "I am still at heart - and always will be - just a punk kid with tattoos," says Angelina. A few years later, she returned to theatre. Angelina made her screen debut as a child in the film 'Lookin' to Get Out', in 1982. She started her acting career as an adult with a low-budget film, 'Cyborg 2' (1993). Jolie then did several films such as 'Hackers' (1995), 'George Wallace' (1997), 'Gia' (1998) and 'Girl, Interrupted' (1999).  Though these films were not commercially successful, her performances were highly praised. She even won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for 'Girl, Interrupted'. Angelina's first big hit was 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider', in 2001. With this film, she became an International star and the highest paid actress in Hollywood. Some of her other must-watch films include 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' (2005), 'Kung Fu Panda' (2008), 'Changeling' (2008), 'Beowulf' (2007), 'A Mighty Heart' (2007), 'Life or Something Like It' (2002), 'Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life' (2003), 'Gone in Sixty Seconds' (2000) and 'The Bone Collector' (1999). Angelina made her directorial debut with 'A Place in Time' (2007), which won high critical acclaim. She will be seen next in 'The Tourist' with Johnny Depp. Angelina is believed to be a method actor, who prefers to stay in character, even in between scenes. She has hence gained a reputation of being eccentric and difficult to deal with. Angelina has won an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards in her film career. Divorced from actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton, Jolie currently lives with actor Brad Pitt. The couple have six children: Maddox, Pax, Shiloh, Knox, Vivienne, and Zahara. Angelina never shared a good rapport with her father, Jon Voight. The two tried to reconcile several times, and also appeared together in 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'; things did not work out. In August 2002, Voight claimed that his daughter had "serious mental problems". She later indicated that she would sever all ties with her father, for her children's safety and personal sanity. In September 2002, she legally changed her name to Angelina Jolie, dropping "Voight" from her surname altogether. "My father and I don't speak. I don't hold any anger towards him. But, I don't believe that only blood-ties make a family. My son's adopted, and families are earned," she said. Angelina promotes several humanitarian causes. She is also noted for her work with refugees, and is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

 

Wading through 2010 tide in swimsuits

 

If you feel mad enough at the start of the New Year to throw off your clothes and dive into icy waters, then these pictures might just give you a high. In a symbolic gesture indicative of discarding the old year and diving whole-heartedly into the new, these revellers show you just how celebrations should be done.   People participate in the annual 'Looney Dook' charity New Year's Day swim in the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh, Scotland. People wearing costumes pose in the water during the traditional New Year's Day swim in Malo-les-Bains, France. Rescue guards watch winter swimmers during a New Year swimming event on the North Sea coast of Buesum, Germany. Revellers participate in the annual 'Looney Dook' charity New Year's Day swim in the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh, Scotland. Participants run towards the waters of the North Sea as they take part in the annual New Year's swim event in Ostend, Belgium. Ice swimmers take a dip in the cold waters of Lake Oranke in Berlin, Germany. A rescue guard watches winter swimmers during a New Year's swimming event in Buesum, Germany. A winter swimmer runs into icy waters during a New Year's swimming event in Buesum, Germany. Marco Fois of Italy dives into the Tiber River from one of Rome's many bridges as part of traditional New Year celebrations. Participants enjoy themselves during the annual 'Looney Dook' charity New Year's Day swim in the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh, Scotland. Members of the Shenyang Winter Swimming Association carry a banner reading 'Happy New Year', during New Year celebrations in Shenyang, China. A winter swimmer moves through icy waters at a park, during New Year celebrations in Shenyang, China. Giuseppe Palmulli of Italy dives into the Tiber River from one of Rome's many bridges, during traditional New Year celebrations. The annual 'Looney Dook' charity New Year's Day swim in the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh, Scotland, has revellers turn up in crowds. People take part in a New Year's Day swim in the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh, Scotland. Revellers wear costumes at the beach during a traditional New Year's Day swim in Malo-les-Bains, France. Crowds turn up for a New Year's charity swim in Scotland.