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Marvel's 'Eternals': Angelina Jolie's kids say 'Thena' is the character most like their mother in real life

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: (L-R) Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt and Knox Jolie-Pitt attend the "The Eternals" UK Premiere at BFI IMAX Waterloo on October 27, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Angelina Jolie has officially joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in Eternals (in theatres on Nov. 5) and the famed actor says her children believe this character is the most similar to her in real life, compared to her other iconic roles.

“She maybe seems the most fantastic I've ever played in a superhero, and yet my children said...it was the most like me that they've seen,” Jolie revealed in a press conference before the movie’s release.

“One of the special things that Chloé [Zhao] brings to this is, she's known for bringing reality to a film, to somebody's true self. So a lot of us were cast to bring out something from our own lives, something within ourselves that maybe we weren't even aware of, and then let it live and let it grow within the film.”

Jolie’s character Thena is known as one of the strongest fighters in the group of 10 Eternals, whose power is that her cosmic energy alone can create weapons, like turning a sword to a spear, to then creating two swords. When we are first introduced to Thena in the movie, she enters in an almost God-like, or angelic white and gold superhero ensemble, fully encompassing her beauty and immortality.

While Thena is incredibly strong, she is also a layered character and we get a glimpse into her vulnerabilities as well, particularly affected by her memories of battle that can overwhelm Thena's thoughts and create this internal struggle.

Thena is also really only close with one Eternal, Gilgamesh (Don Lee). They have a strong partnership in battles but also act as a support system to lean on in a more personal way.

(L-R): Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), Gilgamesh (Don Lee), Thena (Angelina Jolie), Ikaris (Richard Madden), Ajak (Salma Hayek), Sersi (Gemma Chan), Sprite (Lia McHugh), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) and Druig (Barry Keoghan) in Marvel Studios' ETERNALS. (Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios)
(L-R): Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), Gilgamesh (Don Lee), Thena (Angelina Jolie), Ikaris (Richard Madden), Ajak (Salma Hayek), Sersi (Gemma Chan), Sprite (Lia McHugh), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) and Druig (Barry Keoghan) in Marvel Studios' ETERNALS. (Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios)

Jolie revealed she has been a fan of the MCU and a fan of director/co-writer of the movie Chloé Zhao, which made her want to be part of this movie and join this “family.”

“When they first talked to me about the story, really it was the cast, it was the idea of what this family would be, and I just wanted to be a part of this family before I even knew very much about who I was going to play,” she said.

The actor also highlighted that as she learned more about Thena, Jolie was attracted to the vulnerability within a character that is also considered incredibly strong.

I think we often have to present to be fully together to be strong and yet, I think she holds both which most people do,” Jolie said. “It's important to see it.Angelina Jolie, Eternals