Angelina Jolie Wanted to Be a Funeral Director Before Her Acting Career: 'Not Afraid of Death' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Angelina Joliealmost had a completely different résumé.The Oscar-winning actress is a guest on Thursday’s episode ofThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, her first late-night talk show appearance in a decade.In a preview shared exclusively with PEOPLE, Jolie, 49, confirms to host Jimmy Fallon that she once considered becoming a funeral director.“You’re an incredible actor, but I saw some things online. I was wondering if I could ask you if these rumors are true of other careers that you might have had,” says Fallon, 50. “I’d be interested to see if any of these are real.““I’m interested too. Okay,” Jolie says with a smile.Asks Fallon, “First of all, is it true that prior to acting you were studying to become a funeral director?““Yes,” says Jolie, to Fallon’s surprise. She jokes with a laugh, “Doesn’t it make sense though?“Angelina Jolie and Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”.Todd Owyoung/NBCNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The actress explains, “My grandfather died, and I remember thinking this is not how they should be. This should be a celebration of life. And since I’m not afraid of death and I was comfortable with it, I thought, ‘This would be a great career path for me. … I could, like, make this better. I could do a thing here.’ ““Yes,” says Fallon. “We need more people like that.” Jolie then jokes, “It’s my fall-back career now.“Angelina Jolie on Sept. 8, 2024.Robin Marchant/GettyJolie is currently promoting her filmMaria, in which she portrays late opera singer Maria Callas. In select theaters now, the drama is on Netflix Dec. 11.Back in 2011, the star, who is mom to six kids, said on60 Minutesthat she once seriously considered becoming a funeral director.“It sounds like this very strange, eccentric, dark thing to do. But, in fact, I lost my grandfather and I was very upset with his funeral,” Jolie said at the time. “So we discussed that maybe there are ways where this whole idea of how somebody passes and how a family deals with this passing and what death is should be addressed in a different way. If this acting thing didn’t work out, that was gonna be my backup.“See Jolie’s full interview onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonon Thursday, Dec. 5, at 11:35 p.m. ET/10:35 p.m. CT on NBC.

Angelina Joliealmost had a completely different résumé.

The Oscar-winning actress is a guest on Thursday’s episode ofThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, her first late-night talk show appearance in a decade.

In a preview shared exclusively with PEOPLE, Jolie, 49, confirms to host Jimmy Fallon that she once considered becoming a funeral director.

“You’re an incredible actor, but I saw some things online. I was wondering if I could ask you if these rumors are true of other careers that you might have had,” says Fallon, 50. “I’d be interested to see if any of these are real.”

“I’m interested too. Okay,” Jolie says with a smile.

Asks Fallon, “First of all, is it true that prior to acting you were studying to become a funeral director?”

“Yes,” says Jolie, to Fallon’s surprise. She jokes with a laugh, “Doesn’t it make sense though?”

Angelina Jolie and Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”.Todd Owyoung/NBC

Todd Owyoung/NBC

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The actress explains, “My grandfather died, and I remember thinking this is not how they should be. This should be a celebration of life. And since I’m not afraid of death and I was comfortable with it, I thought, ‘This would be a great career path for me. … I could, like, make this better. I could do a thing here.’ "

“Yes,” says Fallon. “We need more people like that.” Jolie then jokes, “It’s my fall-back career now.”

Angelina Jolie on Sept. 8, 2024.Robin Marchant/Getty

Robin Marchant/Getty

Jolie is currently promoting her filmMaria, in which she portrays late opera singer Maria Callas. In select theaters now, the drama is on Netflix Dec. 11.

Back in 2011, the star, who is mom to six kids, said on60 Minutesthat she once seriously considered becoming a funeral director.

“It sounds like this very strange, eccentric, dark thing to do. But, in fact, I lost my grandfather and I was very upset with his funeral,” Jolie said at the time. “So we discussed that maybe there are ways where this whole idea of how somebody passes and how a family deals with this passing and what death is should be addressed in a different way. If this acting thing didn’t work out, that was gonna be my backup.”

See Jolie’s full interview onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonon Thursday, Dec. 5, at 11:35 p.m. ET/10:35 p.m. CT on NBC.

source: people.com