Representing different stages of her existence, these ink designs elegantly encapsulate her personal voyage.
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In addition to her exceptional acting skills, Angelina Jolie has been making headlines for her distinctive collection of tattoos. These tattoos not only serve as impressive pieces of art, but they also carry deep and meaningful messages from various chapters of her life, reflecting her true self. Over time, she has experimented with cover-ups and continues to add new tattoos that contribute to her personal growth. If you are interested in learning about the meanings behind Angelina Jolie’s tattoos, you have come to the right place. Take a moment to explore this article and discover the inspiration behind her tattoos.
In This Article
The Symbolism Behind Angelina Jolie’s Tattoos
Additional Tattoos Worn by Angelina Jolie
Infographic: Decoding 5 of Angelina Jolie’s Tattoos
Frequently Asked Questions
The Symbolism Behind Angelina Jolie’s Tattoos
1. Angelina Jolie’s Thai Tiger Tattoo
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One of the most popular tattoos of Angelina Jolie is an illustration of a tiger adorned with sacred Thai symbols. This tattoo symbolizes freedom and carries positive meanings. During a visit to Thailand in 2004, Jolie chose to get this tiger tattoo on her lower back. Spanning a size of 12 inches by 8 inches, it decorates her waist. The tattoo was created using the traditional Thai method, where needles were manually used and the artist blessed it with ancient chants. This tattoo beautifully showcases Jolie’s creativity and personal style.
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2. The ‘Know Your Rights’ Tattoo
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Just above her Buddhist inscription tattoo, located at the back of her neck, Angelina Jolie proudly displays a unique one-liner tattoo in bold Gothic font, which simply states, ‘familiarize yourself with your entitlements.’ This powerful phrase happens to be the title of a cherished song by one of her beloved bands.
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The elegance of Arabic calligraphy has long been admired, and Angelina Jolie’s right forearm boasts a striking tattoo that symbolizes “willpower.” Interestingly, this particular tattoo is actually a clever cover-up for a previous abstract design that was inked when she was married to her ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton. Let’s not forget about her iconic cross tattoo too!
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Angelina Jolie has built a reputation for her adaptability and ability to move forward in life, and her tattoos serve as a prime example of her personal expression and fresh beginnings.
One notable tattoo instance was when she had small dragon tattoos on her waist, which she had done in Amsterdam. However, she later decided to cover them up with a Latin phrase, “Quod me nutrit me destruit,” translating to “what nourishes me, destroys me.” This transformation took place in 1995, just a day before her wedding to Johnny Lee Miller.
5. The Tattoo of Geographical Coordinates
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Angelina has been an incredible mother, and each of her tattoos holds a profound significance tied to her cherished memories or her children.
On her left bicep, she proudly displays six sets of geographical coordinates, representing the exact locations where she first met each of her children. These coordinates are:
– N11° 33′ 00″ E104° 51′ 00″: This tattoo, dedicated to her eldest son Maddox, symbolizes Cambodia.
– N09° 02′ 00″ E038° 45′ 00″: Ethiopia is represented by the second tattoo, which honors her daughter Zahara.
– S22° 40′ 26″ E014° 31′ 40″: The third tattoo is a tribute to her daughter Shiloh, who was born in Namibia.
– N10° 46′ 00″ E106° 41′ 40″: The fourth tattoo signifies Vietnam, the birthplace of her son Pa.
– N43° 41′ 21″ E07° 14′ 28″: The fifth and sixth tattoos commemorate her twin children, Knox and Vivienne, who came into the world in France.
– N43° 41′ 21″ E07° 14′ 28″: The last set of coordinates represents Brad Pitt’s birthplace, adding a special touch to the collection.
One more tattoo close to Angelina’s heart is her Roman numeral tattoo, which holds a personal meaning known only to her.
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Angelina proudly displays a meaningful tattoo on her left inner arm – the Roman numeral 13. This choice of number reflects her rebellious spirit, as 13 is often associated with bad luck. Etched beside the roman numeral is the inscription “XIII V MCMXL,” representing the date 13/5/1940. This date holds great significance as it serves as a tribute to the legendary Winston Churchill. On that very day, he delivered his iconic “blood, toil, tears and sweat” speech. Angelina’s tattoo serves as a permanent reminder of this historic moment in time.
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7. Billy Bob Tattoo
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Among Angelina Jolie’s earliest tattoos was the infamous ‘Billy Bob’ tattoo. This tattoo featured a black and white design of a Chinese dragon with the name of her ex-husband, Billy Bob Thornton, written on top. However, after their divorce, she made the decision to cover up this tattoo with a new design that symbolized her love for her children.
One of the most commonly regretted tattoos is the name tattoo. Thankfully, they are also relatively easy to cover up, especially if they are small in size. Opting for a cover-up tattoo that represents your children is a touching and beautiful gesture, as they will always hold a special place in your heart.
8. Tattoo of Buddhist Script On the Upper Back
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Angelina Jolie’s eldest son, Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt, was born in Cambodia, and in honor of him, she got a meaningful Buddhist Pali tattoo inscribed in Khmer. The talented tattoo artist Noo, also known as Sompong Kanhphaiin, was the one who created the beautiful design. The tattoo carries a powerful message, which can be paraphrased as follows:
“May your enemies always stay far away from you. If you are blessed with wealth, may it always remain within your grasp. Your inner beauty will radiate like that of a divine Apsara. Wherever your path leads, you will be surrounded by numerous devoted souls who will attend to you, serve you, and protect you from all directions.”
10. Angelina Jolie’s Tattoo Honoring Her Late Mother
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Angelina Jolie initially got a tattoo of the Japanese symbol of death as a way to symbolize her determination to keep fighting for life. However, she later decided to cover it up with a Khmer tattoo and dedicated it to her eldest son.
Angelina Jolie’s arm is adorned with a collection of tattoos, each with its own unique significance. Amongst her impressive ink collection, one particular tattoo that caught attention was the Asian dragon tattoo situated just below her iconic Billy Bob tattoo.
It was revealed that the dragon tattoo was actually inked before the name of her ex-husband, which later caused her deep regret. After the relationship ended, Angelina took the courageous step of having it removed from her skin. Reflecting on this experience, she openly admitted in an interview, “I’ll never make the mistake of permanently marking myself with someone’s name again.”
The removal process was not an easy one, requiring a total of five visits. Although the dragon tattoo is no longer visible in its original form, some remnants of it can still be spotted in scattered fragments on her arm. These tattoos serve as a reminder of the past and the lessons learned, adding to the unique story that is Angelina Jolie’s body art.
Noted celebrity Angelina Jolie proudly displays a meaningful quote on her arm, which reads, “A prayer for the untamed souls confined within cages.” This poignant phrase originates from Tennessee Williams’ renowned play, Stairs To The Roof, published in 1941. What makes this tattoo even more special is that Jolie had it inked while her mother was present, adding an extra layer of sentimentality to its significance. Additionally, this tattoo seamlessly intertwines with another nearby design, forming an intricate pattern of enchanting swirls.
Fun Fact
This tattoo holds a special meaning to her as it was the very first one she ever got when she reached the age of 20. During a period of confusion and uncertainty in her life, she found inspiration in the wise words of her mother.
Additional Information:
Explore the Top 21 Arm Tattoo Designs for Women with Deep Meanings in 2024.
Twelfth on the list is the Khmer Script Tattoo.
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Angelina Jolie opted to enhance her back with a unique and meaningful tattoo known as Yant ViHan Pha Chad Sada. The intricate design was skillfully crafted by a former monk, utilizing steel rods and a clinical steel needle. The tattoo consists of two yants, with the upper portion featuring beautifully scripted symbols. Within the Sak Yant talisman square, the representation of the four continents and the four elements – water, wind, fire, and earth – can be found. Ajarn Noo Kanpai traveled from Bangkok to Siem Reap in Cambodia specifically to adorn Angelina’s back with this unforgettable expression of art. It is worth noting that her former spouse also received a Buddhist symbol in the same ink, symbolizing their eternal bond. Unfortunately, their marriage came to an end in September 2016.
Fun Fact
This unique tattoo design symbolizes abundant prosperity, personal growth, fortunate opportunities, and achieving great success in one’s professional journey. Additionally, it carries the intriguing belief of providing a safeguard against malevolent forces and providing protection during challenging periods.
Angelina Jolie proudly displays a special tattoo on her left wrist – the letter ‘H’ as a tribute to her brother, James Haven. This Norwegian-style ink design has become quite popular among tattoo enthusiasts. However, it is worth noting that some may mistakenly believe it represents her former flame, Timothy Hutton. Furthermore, Angelina also cherishes her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, and chose to honor her by tattooing the letter ‘M’ on her palm. These unique body artworks are a heartfelt expression of love and remembrance for the actress.
Lưu’s Instagram profile picture showcases an intriguing tattoo on her upper left arm. This exquisite design features a captivating swirl symbol, known for its sacred significance in the Buddhist faith. Revered as a shield against negative energies, this enchanting tattoo is believed to bring forth prosperity and fortune to its owner. Moving to her right hand, there are also inscriptions that add an extra layer of intrigue to Lưu’s body art.
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Angelina had Urdu inscriptions on her right arm originally, but she decided to conceal them with a tattoo of Roman numerals instead.
Other Tattoos of Angelina Jolie
On her arm, Angelina initially had a unique abstract design created by herself and her former husband, Billy Bob Thornton. This design was later replaced with her Arabic tattoo.
Angelina had three tattoos on her lower back – a tribal tattoo, a blue window, and an ethnic dragon tattoo. She eventually covered up the tribal dragon with a tiger tattoo. The window symbolized her perspective on life, as she hoped to meet someone special. The tail of the tiger now overlaps the window.
“Whiskey Bravo” is tattooed on Angelina’s inner thigh, featuring the initials of her former husband, Brad Pitt. She also covered up her dragon tattoo, which had a blue tongue, with a cross tattoo on her waist. Additionally, she previously had a matching tattoo with her ex-husband Johnny Lee Miller, featuring a Japanese symbol of courage, but she chose to remove it following their divorce. Lastly, she has an energy waves tattoo on her navel, which was inked by Daemon Rowanchilde.
