Jolie dedicates new role to mother

7:57am Tuesday 18th November 2008

Angelina Jolie paid a tearful tribute to her late mother at a press conference for the release of her latest film Changeling - and said the role she played was in her honour.

Jolie, whose mother Marcheline died in January last year after a long battle with cancer, said she had been taught the right values in life by her "elegant" mother.

In a tearful tribute, she said: "Her name was Marcheline, but we used to call her Marshmallow, as a joke, because she was just the softest, most gentle woman in the world. She was really sweet and was never angry - she couldn't swear to save her life. But when it came to her kids, she was really fierce and so this is very much her, her story.

"She was the woman I related to, who had that elegance and strength for knowing what was right."

In the film, directed by Clint Eastwood, Jolie plays a mother in 1920s Los Angeles whose son is kidnapped. When a child is returned to her, she quickly realises that the boy is not her own.

Jolie, a mother of six in real life, also hinted at the London press conference that she may slowly move away from acting and continue expanding her family.

She said: "I have a big family and a lot of responsibility at home, and I have the good fortune to financially not have to work all the time, and I just feel privileged that I get to be home a lot. Maybe eventually I'll stop (acting)." And when asked if the public could expect her to expand her family again, she replied: "Sure you can."

Jolie said the role had especially appealed to her as it was an "inspirational and true story".

"When I first read the script I just couldn't put it down, but then I said no, I'm leaving it," she said. "I didn't want to get involved with the project because it was too upsetting. But then I couldn't stop talking about her (the character). I found myself sitting with people and wanting them to know about this extraordinary woman."

The 33-year-old also praised director Eastwood and said she had always wanted to work with him. "He is a really good man. He is one of those very fair, strong leaders."