The surprisingly simple feature Angelina Jolie loves 'the most' in her sprawling LA home
There is a lot to admire about this Beaux-Arts mansion, but one unexpected feature stands out to this Hollywood star
Few figures possess the stature in Hollywood of Angelina Jolie – the actress and humanitarian makes headlines far beyond Los Angeles. It is somewhat fitting, therefore, that she owns an estate in Los Feliz, the highly desirable hillside neighborhood, which is home to the biggest names in the movie industry.
Classed as one of the world's best homes, the actress' property – which you can take a video tour of below – was formally owned by iconic director Cecil B DeMille, and is a trove of admirable assets, including a tea house and views of The Griffith Observatory.
Choosing a 'favorite thing' from such a home may sound like a tall order, but in an interview with British Vogue, Angelina revealed that her favorite thing is, in fact, incredibly simple. And, it seems the space was a saving grace for her six children during the pandemic lockdowns, too.
'I love most that there is no entertainment room, but lots of pathways and places to walk and think. I feel very fortunate we have that at this time,' the actress shared.
Finding peace to think in the yard is a simple thing that even Hollywood legends prioritize, it seems.
Alongside the pathways, Angelina's garden is a maze of jacaranda trees and rose bushes that slope down to a pool house and pool – crowned with arched fountains that stand as a reminder of her exclusive postcode.
However, it was, she revealed, her children's trampoline that gave the family much needed relief during the pandemic. And it wasn't just the children on the trampoline: the actress says that she uses it with them.
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'We were on the trampoline the other day, and the children said, "No, mom, don't do that. You'll hurt yourself." And I thought, "God, isn't that funny. There was a day I was an action star, and now the kids are telling me to get off the trampoline because I'll hurt myself",' reported the British fashion bible.
Inside the 10-bedroom home, Angelina's home decorating ideas are more elaborate. Vogue reports that there's a state-of-the-art gym, and that her basement hosts a spacious wine cellar (this is perhaps a given, considering her sizeable Provençal vineyards). Meanwhile, the best view of The Griffith Observatory comes from the private terrace leading from the primary bedroom.
Despite all this, however, the backyard is Angelina's best-loved feature. And that comes as no surprise. Research from Britain's Royal Horticultural Society found that spending time in your garden can improve well-being and decrease stress levels (in a survey, well-being scores were 6.6% higher and stress levels 4.2% lower than those who do venture to garden at all).
While there are many benefits to spending time in the garden, the RHS says that it is, above all, a place of tranquillity that 'can provide a relaxing environment where you can embrace your inner creativity.' Many also turn to gardening as a way of cutting back screen time and building a connection with nature – a good thing, whether you're in Los Feliz or any other corner of the world.
Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants.
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