CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
Ad Feedback
Movies
Television
Celebrity
More
Movies Television Celebrity
Audio Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Log Out
Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account
My Account
  • Settings
  • Log Out
Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account

Live TV Audio
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español

Movies
Television
Celebrity
Follow CNN Entertainment

  • US
    • Crime + Justice
    • Energy + Environment
    • Extreme Weather
    • Space + Science
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • Politics
    • SCOTUS
    • Congress
    • Facts First
    • 2020 Election
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Success
    • Perspectives
    • Video
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Market Movers
    • Fear & Greed
    • World Markets
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Before the Bell
    • Nightcap
  • Opinion
    • Political Op-Eds
    • Social Commentary
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
    • Gadget
    • Foreseeable Future
    • Mission: Ahead
    • Upstarts
    • Work Transformed
    • Innovative Cities
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Pro Football
    • College Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Soccer
    • Olympics
    • Hockey
  • Videos
    • Live TV
    • Digital Studios
    • CNN Films
    • HLN
    • TV Schedule
    • TV Shows A-Z
    • CNNVR
  • CNN Underscored
    • Electronics
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home
    • Reviews
    • Deals
    • Money
    • Gifts
    • Travel
    • Outdoors
    • Pets
    • CNN Store
  • Coupons
  • More
    • Photos
    • Longform
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN
Entertainment

Angelina Jolie, before she was famous

Published 6:36 AM EDT, Thu June 2, 2016
Link Copied!
Aspiring actress Angelina Jolie was 15 years old when she had a professional photo shoot with <a href="http://harrylangdon.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Harry Langdon</a> in Los Angeles. She was relatively unknown at the time, even though her father was actor Jon Voight.
Aspiring actress Angelina Jolie was 15 years old when she had a professional photo shoot with Harry Langdon in Los Angeles. She was relatively unknown at the time, even though her father was actor Jon Voight.
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
For decades, Langdon has been photographing people in the entertainment industry. He's shot celebrities such as George Clooney, Halle Berry and Sophia Loren. "When we get a call to photograph a relative of a well-known actor -- in this case, Jon Voight -- we sort of figure: 'Well, OK, here we go again. Let's hope that she knows what she's doing, and we'll do our best.' ... It turned out to be a nice surprise," Langdon said.
For decades, Langdon has been photographing people in the entertainment industry. He's shot celebrities such as George Clooney, Halle Berry and Sophia Loren. "When we get a call to photograph a relative of a well-known actor -- in this case, Jon Voight -- we sort of figure: 'Well, OK, here we go again. Let's hope that she knows what she's doing, and we'll do our best.' ... It turned out to be a nice surprise," Langdon said.
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
Langdon remembers being struck by Jolie's confidence during the shoot. "Someway or another, she just sort of knew what to do," he said. "I don't know if it was a mental telepathy or what. I can usually see in my imagination a pose that would work, and -- boom -- she kept going into these poses."
Langdon remembers being struck by Jolie's confidence during the shoot. "Someway or another, she just sort of knew what to do," he said. "I don't know if it was a mental telepathy or what. I can usually see in my imagination a pose that would work, and -- boom -- she kept going into these poses."
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
The shoot took place on January 11, 1991, and lasted about two hours, Langdon said. He didn't charge anything. "We used to use the term a 'test session,' " he said. "Kind of like a trial, and hopefully one day the pictures will be valuable."
The shoot took place on January 11, 1991, and lasted about two hours, Langdon said. He didn't charge anything. "We used to use the term a 'test session,' " he said. "Kind of like a trial, and hopefully one day the pictures will be valuable."
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
Langdon recalled there being little conversation on set, which he said isn't uncommon for young actors. "Sometimes on photo sessions I get into in-depth conversations about their skiing or their horseback riding or something like that. With (Jolie), it was all business."
Langdon recalled there being little conversation on set, which he said isn't uncommon for young actors. "Sometimes on photo sessions I get into in-depth conversations about their skiing or their horseback riding or something like that. With (Jolie), it was all business."
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
Langdon said he didn't find out Jolie's age until after the shoot. "I knew nothing about her background," he said. "I knew nothing about her living conditions or boyfriends. I knew nothing about her stage experience."
Langdon said he didn't find out Jolie's age until after the shoot. "I knew nothing about her background," he said. "I knew nothing about her living conditions or boyfriends. I knew nothing about her stage experience."
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
Jolie's many outfits included a swimsuit. "She started posing pretty sexy," Langdon said. "But it wasn't so much her poses. She emitted a real sensuality. I just kept shooting from different angles."
Jolie's many outfits included a swimsuit. "She started posing pretty sexy," Langdon said. "But it wasn't so much her poses. She emitted a real sensuality. I just kept shooting from different angles."
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
Jolie's film career would take off a couple years after the shoot. In 2000, she won the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in "Girl, Interrupted."
Jolie's film career would take off a couple years after the shoot. In 2000, she won the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in "Girl, Interrupted."
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
Langdon said the proofs were delivered to Voight and he never heard from them again.
Langdon said the proofs were delivered to Voight and he never heard from them again.
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
"When it comes to acting, for a still camera, you have to kind of express a great deal of your body language and your sensuality the best you can," Langdon said. "Because there's not a moving camera and there's no dialogue, you have to say it all with body language -- which she did really, really well."
"When it comes to acting, for a still camera, you have to kind of express a great deal of your body language and your sensuality the best you can," Langdon said. "Because there's not a moving camera and there's no dialogue, you have to say it all with body language -- which she did really, really well."
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
"I never know nowadays when I photograph an aspiring actor where they're going to go," Langdon said. "The more and more mature I get in my career, I've realized that every session I do could be a really important session." <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/14/showbiz/gallery/angelina-jolie/index.html" target="_blank">See more photos from Jolie's life and career</a>
"I never know nowadays when I photograph an aspiring actor where they're going to go," Langdon said. "The more and more mature I get in my career, I've realized that every session I do could be a really important session." See more photos from Jolie's life and career
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
My Account
  • Settings
  • Log Out
Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account

Live TV Audio
  • US
    • Crime + Justice
    • Energy + Environment
    • Extreme Weather
    • Space + Science
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • Politics
    • The Biden Presidency
    • Facts First
    • US Elections
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Success
    • Perspectives
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Market Movers
    • Fear & Greed
    • World Markets
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Before the Bell
    • Nightcap
  • Opinion
    • Political Op-Eds
    • Social Commentary
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
    • Gadget
    • Foreseeable Future
    • Mission: Ahead
    • Upstarts
    • Work Transformed
    • Innovative Cities
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Pro Football
    • College Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Soccer
    • Olympics
    • Hockey
  • Videos
    • Live TV
    • Digital Studios
    • CNN Films
    • HLN
    • TV Schedule
    • TV Shows A-Z
    • CNNVR
  • Audio
  • CNN Underscored
    • Electronics
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home
    • Reviews
    • Deals
    • Money
    • Gifts
    • Travel
    • Outdoors
    • Pets
    • CNN Store
  • Coupons
  • Weather
    • Climate
    • Storm Tracker
    • Wildfire Tracker
    • Video
  • More
    • Photos
    • Longform
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Audio Live TV
Follow CNN Entertainment
My Account
  • Settings
  • Log Out
Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts

© 2023 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.