Brad Pitt is counting his blessings. The World War Z actor, 49, opened up about fiancee Angelina Jolie's stunning revelation of her double mastectomy in a late Tuesday, May 15 interview with USA TODAY. "I'm quite emotional about it, course," said the actor, who had previously released a short statement of support and pride about Jolie's news, revealed in a touching New York Times Op-Ed piece.
The star shed new light on his longtime love's move to share the medical ordeal with the world. "She could have stayed absolutely private about it and I don't think anyone would have been none the wiser with such good results. But it was really important to her to share the story and that others would understand it doesn't have to be a scary thing. In fact, it can be an empowering thing, and something that makes you stronger and us stronger."
Although the Maleficent actress made perhaps fewer appearances than usual during the February-through-April period that she underwent the procedures, Pitt points out that she kept important commitments in the Congo, in London for a G-8 Foreign Ministers Conference, and in NYC to honor a young Pakistani hero.
"This was during Stage 2 (when the double mastectomy was performed)," Pitt revealed. "Literally it was just weeks after she'd had truly major surgery."
The superstar couple also made sure to include their six kids in the healing process. "We set up our own little post-op recovery that became pretty fun," he said of Maddox, 11, Pax, 9, Zahara, 8, Shiloh, 6, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 4. (A source told Us that the "kids were wonderfully supportive" throughout the process.) "You make an adventure out of it."
Jolie lovingly acknowledged her children and "loving and supportive" love in her essay. "We managed to find moments to laugh together," she wrote. "We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has."
"It's been an emotional and beautifully inspiring few months," Pitt continued. "It's such a wonderful relief to come through this and not have a spectre hanging over our heads. To know that that's not going to be something that's going to affect us. My most proudest thing is our family. This isn't going to get that."
