Angelina Jolie opens up on why she got double mastectomy after sharing scars for first time

Angelina Jolie said that her 'scars are a choice' she made to be around for her kids as they grow up.

The actress went public with her mastectomy scars for the first time in December, 12 years after undergoing the surgery in 2013.

A mastectomy is a surgery to remove all or part of a breast, usually to treat or prevent breast cancer, which includes removing the tissue, skin, or sometimes the nipple.

She has spoken about the scars in the past, though, saying in an interview with Hello! last year: "I did choose to have that because I lost my mother and my grandmother very young.

"I have the BRCA gene, so I chose to have a double mastectomy a decade ago. And then I’ve also had my ovaries removed, because that’s what took my mother."

The BRCA 1 gene was the cause behind Jolie's increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

Having made the cover of TIME France, the mum-of-six could be seen showing off her markings, saying: "I share these scars with many women I love. And I'm always moved when I see other women share theirs."

Now, the Salt star has opened up on the move to lower her risk of cancer in a new interview, speaking with France Inter this week.

"I've always been someone more interested in the scars and the life that people carry,' she said. 'I'm not drawn to a perfect idea of a life that has no scars," she began.

"My scars are a choice I made to stay here as long as I could with my children. I love my scars because of that."

Jolie added that she's 'grateful' to have had the choice to do something 'proactive' about her health, especially as her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, died following breast and ovarian cancer diagnoses at 56.

The Wanted actress went on: "So for me, I think this is life, and if you get to the end of your life and you haven't made mistakes and you haven't made a mess, you don't have scars, you haven't lived a full enough life."

Jolie shares three biological children with ex-husband Brad Pitt: Shiloh, 19, and 17-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, while also having three adopted children: Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, and Zahara, 21.

The Tomb Raider star said she didn't 'regret' getting a double mastectomy, saying: "Those are my choices. I don’t say everybody should do it that way, but it’s important to have the choice."

In her upcoming film titled Couture, she plays a woman diagnosed with breast cancer.

The actress called for more BRCA screening, admitting that she spoke out about the condition to 'encourage informed choices'.

"Healthcare decisions must be personal, and women must have the information and support they need to make those choices," Jolie previously highlighted.

"Access to screening and care should not depend on financial resources or where someone lives."