Happy 40th Birthday Angelina Jolie! Let’s Look Back At Her Style Hits

Happy 40th Birthday Angelina! Look Back At Her Style Evolution

Angelina Jolie's famous 2012 Oscars dress

by Hayley Spencer |
Published on

Angelina Jolie turns 40 today, and hasn't she been on one helluva journey? From a kooky teen starlet to a 20-something with a penchent for the macabre (those blood-vial necklaces she and Billy Bob Thornton wore, anyone?) to a political superwoman, Angelina has inspired and shocked over the years.

The Golden Globe winner has wowed on screen and off, hitting headlines with her daring fashion choices - from her leather-clad matchy-matchy phase with former boyfriend Johnny Lee Miller, to her famous right leg-flashing Oscars dress. And she's undergone an equally dramatic change in taste in men - these days she's rarely seen without her husband Brad Pitt, nor their six kids, of course.

As well as her growing brood and acting credentials, Angelina is known for her charity work, which takes her worldwide, campaigning for causes as a UNHCR as a Goodwill Ambassador.

[Getty]
[Getty]

She's also proven herself an inspiration over the past two years for her for her bravery in facing cancer. In 2013 the actress underwent a double masectomy and earlier this year she revealed she had had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to prevent against heriditary cancer. She's opened up about her experience of diseases, writing inspiring pieces for The New York Times. "I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity," she wrote in her second piece entitled Angelina Jolie Pitt: Diary of a Surgery. Her frank and heartfelt letters have helped raise awareness and proven her unerring determination to live life to the fullest.

In 2014, Angelina not only starred in smash-hit Maleficent - the live-action version of Snow White, in which she played the titular role - she also released her directorial debut, Unbroken, starring Jack O'Connell. Late this year she'll unveil her joint project with Brad: By The Sea. It's the first film they've co-starred in since they met on the set of Mr and Mrs Smith a decade ago. Expect serious chemistry!

No doubt there's plenty more to come from Angelina. To celebrate her 40th birthday, take a look back at her most stylish moments, dating all the way back to 1986, in the gallery below.

Gallery

Angelina Jolie - Best Dresses & Outfits

Angelina Jolie amanda wakely style 2010 layered pink silver dress1 of 31

Angelina Jolie amanda wakely style 2010 layered pink silver dress

Angelina Jolie in Amanda Wakely at the Salt premiere in London, Aug 2010

Angelina Jolie john lee miller style 1995 leather jacket2 of 31

Angelina Jolie john lee miller style 1995 leather jacket

Angelina Jolie with John Lee Miller on the set of Hackers, 1995

Angelina Jolie oscars style 2014 shimmer long dress3 of 31

Angelina Jolie oscars style 2014 shimmer long dress

Angelina Jolie at the Oscars - March 2, 2014

Angelina Jolie pamella roland style 2010 silver dress4 of 31

Angelina Jolie pamella roland style 2010 silver dress

Angelina Jolie in Pamella Roland at the Salt premiere in Paris, Aug 2010

Angelina Jolie saint laurent 2013 style black blazer shirt trousers5 of 31

Angelina Jolie saint laurent 2013 style black blazer shirt trousers

Angelina Jolie in Saint Laurent at World Z Premiere, Paris - 3 June 2013

Angelina Jolie style 2006 pregnant green dress6 of 31

Angelina Jolie style 2006 pregnant green dress

Angelina Jolie, 2006

Angelina Jolie style 2012 in the land of blood and honey white rose dress7 of 31

Angelina Jolie style 2012 in the land of blood and honey white rose dress

Angelina Jolie at the 'In the Land of Blood and Honey' premiere, Paris, Feb 2012

Angelina Jolie style 2012 leather skirt white silk shirt8 of 31

Angelina Jolie style 2012 leather skirt white silk shirt

Angelina Jolie at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, New York, Jan 2012

Angelina Jolie style 2012 long sleeve bronze dress9 of 31

Angelina Jolie style 2012 long sleeve bronze dress

Angelina Jolie at the 62nd Berlinale International Film Festival, Berlin, Feb 2012

Angelina Jolie style 2012 SAG awards black halter dress10 of 31

Angelina Jolie style 2012 SAG awards black halter dress

Angelina Jolie in Jenny Packham at the SAG Awards, Jan 2012

Angelina Jolie style 2012 white silk shirt blazer black trousers11 of 31

Angelina Jolie style 2012 white silk shirt blazer black trousers

Angelina Jolie at 3rd Annual Women in The World Summit, New York, America - 08 Mar 2012

Angelina Jolie style 2013 black skirt blazer boots12 of 31

Angelina Jolie style 2013 black skirt blazer boots

Angelina Jolie arrives at LAX airport, Los Angeles - 27 Mar 2013

Angelina Jolie style 2013 london black long coat pearls13 of 31

Angelina Jolie style 2013 london black long coat pearls

Angelina Jolie in London for G8 Meeting - 11 April 2013

Angelina Jolie style 2014 black dress the normal heart14 of 31

Angelina Jolie style 2014 black dress the normal heart

Angelina Jolie at the New York premiere of 'The Normal Heart' - May 12, 2014

Angelina Jolie style 2014 maleficent 2014 black peplum trousers15 of 31

Angelina Jolie style 2014 maleficent 2014 black peplum trousers

Angelina Jolie at a photo call for the film 'Maleficent' in Paris - May 6, 2014

Angelina Jolie style 2014 maleficent black long dress netted16 of 31

Angelina Jolie style 2014 maleficent black long dress netted

Angelina Jolie at 'Maleficent' premiere in London - May 8, 2014

Angelina Jolie style 2014 maleficent london white bird dress17 of 31

Angelina Jolie style 2014 maleficent london white bird dress

Angelina Jolie at a photocall for 'Maleficent' in London - May 9, 2014

Angelina Jolie style 2014 the normal heart white top black trousers18 of 31

Angelina Jolie style 2014 the normal heart white top black trousers

Angelina Jolie in New York - May 12, 2014

Angelina Jolie style aged 19 1994 black low cut dress19 of 31

Angelina Jolie style aged 19 1994 black low cut dress

Angelina Jolie aged 19, 1994

Angelina Jolie style atelier versace 2010 white split dress20 of 31

Angelina Jolie style atelier versace 2010 white split dress

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace at the New York premiere of The Tourist, Dec 2010

Angelina Jolie style atelier versace golden globes red white dress21 of 31

Angelina Jolie style atelier versace golden globes red white dress

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace at the Golden Globe Award, Jan 2012

Angelina Jolie style Elie Saab halter neck dress pink 201222 of 31

Angelina Jolie style Elie Saab halter neck dress pink 2012

Angelina Jolie in Elie Saab at the Palm Springs Awards, Jan 2012

Angelina Jolie style SAG awards 2000 black dress23 of 31

Angelina Jolie style SAG awards 2000 black dress

Angelina Jolie at the SAG Awards, 2000

Angelina Jolie style saint laurent baftas white shirt black blazer trousers neck tie24 of 31

Angelina Jolie style saint laurent baftas white shirt black blazer trousers neck tie

Angelina Jolie in Saint Laurent at the 2014 BAFTA Awards

Angelina Jolie style saint laurent black evening dress cut out25 of 31

Angelina Jolie style saint laurent black evening dress cut out

Angelina Jolie in Saint Laurent at World Z Premiere, London - 2 June 2013

Angelina Jolie style saint laurent khaki maxi dress black jacket26 of 31

Angelina Jolie style saint laurent khaki maxi dress black jacket

Angelina Jolie in Saint Laurent at 4th Annual Women in the World Summit, New York - 04 Apr 2013

Angelina Jolie style salt premiere 2010 black long dress27 of 31

Angelina Jolie style salt premiere 2010 black long dress

Angelina Jolie at the Salt premiere in Tokyo, 2010

Angelina Jolie style split black dress academy awards28 of 31

Angelina Jolie style split black dress academy awards

Angelina Jolie with Brad Pitt at The 84th Annual Academy Awards in Atelier Versace, Feb 2012

Angelina Jolie versace style gloves black dress 201029 of 31

Angelina Jolie versace style gloves black dress 2010

Angelina Jolie vintage versace style 2010 black split dress30 of 31

Angelina Jolie vintage versace style 2010 black split dress

Angelina Jolie in vintage Versace, Aug 2010

Angelina Jolie with dad style 1986 lace dress31 of 31

Angelina Jolie with dad style 1986 lace dress

Angelina Jolie with her father in 1986

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us