Angelina Jolie's career highlights

Every single rumor about the star couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie gets picked up by tabloids. With "By the Sea," Jolie daringly decided to add her own voice to all the gossip about her relationship, by directing and starring with her real-life husband in this drama about a couple undergoing a deep crisis.

When the US-born actress starred in the movie "Hackers" 20 years ago, nobody would have thought that she would become one of the biggest stars in the world just a few years later.

In 1999, Angelina Jolie starred in three major films. In the thriller "The Bone Collector," she played a cop, teaming up with Denzel Washington. The attractive actress was becoming more and more convincing, even in tough action movies.

Jolie's performance in "Girl, Interrupted" that same year was highly celebrated. She starred with Winona Ryder, who played the main role. Her depiction of a patient in a psychiatric clinic was so convincing that she obtained an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Two years later, Jolie played a beautiful action heroine in the film adaptation of the video game "Lara Croft." People all over the world went to see the popular film.

While shooting "Lara Croft" in Cambodia, the actress witnessed first-hand the humanitarian problems in the country, which led her to get involved. She later assisted the United Nations in various functions. In her efforts to help refugees, she met numerous politicians - among them Aung San Suu Kyi, in Myanmar in 2015.

The US actress is committed to helping persecuted people, all while starring in commercial Hollywood mega-productions, like the erotic thriller "Original Sin" (2001). This makes some people distrust her intentions - they claim these two aspects of her career aren't compatible.

However, Angelina Jolie managed to combine these two worlds. She has earned respect by further pursuing her social and political projects. Throughout the years, she also kept receiving roles adding to her desirability in Hollywood, such as here in Oliver Stone's historical epic "Alexander" (2004).

The 2005 film "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" was not only a huge commercial success, it also led Jolie to get closer to her co-star, Brad Pitt. Later on, they became one of Hollywood's dream couples.

Whether while working on a film or through her humanitarian engagement, Angelina Jolie has met some of the world's most outstanding personalities. Last year, she was even received by the Queen. In such formal circumstances, Jolie knows how to play her role perfectly.

Five years ago, the film "The Tourist" by German-born Oscar winner Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck obtained bad reviews - even though it starred Jolie and Johnny Depp. The movie nevertheless became a box office hit. Incidentally, Angelina Jolie has German roots.

The actress has long established her reputation in Hollywood and the world. Instead of letting tabloids and critics bring her down, she further works to stay above reproach. Even the Pope seemed quite happy to meet her.

Although she is mainly known as an actress, Angelina Jolie has also directed her own films. In 2011, her directorial debut, "In the Land of Blood and Honey," premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and received a lot of attention. Now, she is releasing her third movie, "By the Sea."