With a keen sense of her own sexuality, talented and mesmerizing actress Angelina Jolie (1975-), started acting at age five, grabbed her first screen role in 1982, and walked off with an Oscar for her stunning performance as the disturbed patient in Girl, Interrupted (2000).

"When I read a script and I'm scared to play the role, I know it's the right one," she explained. "I feel extremely blessed... I enjoyed all the steps that got me here."

Born on this day in Los Angeles, California, Jolie is the daughter of veteran actor Jon Voight who played her father in Tomb Raider (2001).

For the demanding role, Jolie quit smoking and trained three months in gymnastics, yoga, weights, bungee-jumping, and kickboxing.

The film earned $275 million globally. She is a celebration of intelligence, spunk, and glamour.

On portraying the video game heroine Laura Croft, Jolie said at the time. "I love being this character... She doesn't hate... She just likes to have fun, she's open to everything."

One of her tattoos reads, "A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages." Bold and beautiful, she said, "My tattoos say something that is very sacred to me and romantic even. You can almost say it's corny."

Jolie became a United Nations Goodwill ambassador in 2001. She has traveled the world tirelessly to raise awareness and support for refugees and has said of her commitment, "I believe in what the UN has always stood for—equality and the protection of human rights for all people."

Jolie was named an honorary dame in 2014 by Queen Elizabeth II her work combating sexual violence in war zones.

The mother of six children with fellow actor Brad Pitt, Jolie said, "Like every mother, my wish – every birthday – is for my children to stay healthy (and) for my family to remain healthy."

All women are different. Hooray!