Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt
Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt in September 2016 after two years of marriage, ending a relationship that began in 2005 REUTERS/Andreas Rentz/Pool

Angelina Jolie has opened up about her split with Brad Pitt. The 41-year-old actress filed for divorce from him on 19 September 2016 citing irreconcilable differences.

During an interview with Vanity Fair, the Maleficent actress talked about the couple's separation. She said: "It's just been the hardest time, and we're just kind of coming up for air. [This house] is a big jump forward for us, and we're all trying to do our best to heal as our family....things got bad...I don't want to use that word...Things became 'difficult.'"

Jolie also detailed how their children, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Vivienne and Knox are dealing with the changes. She said: "[Our lifestyle] was not in any way a negative. That was not the problem. That is and will remain one of the wonderful opportunities we are able to give our children...They're six very strong-minded, thoughtful, worldly individuals. I'm very proud of them. [They're] very brave...in times they needed to be. We're all just healing from the events that led to the filing...They're not healing from the divorce. They're healing from some...from life, from things in life."

Previously, during a recent interview with GQ, Pitt revealed his priority right now are the couple's children. He said: "Family first. People on their deathbeds don't talk about what they obtained or were awarded."

"They talk about their loved ones or their regrets—that seems to be the menu. I say that as someone who's let the work take me away. Kids are so delicate. They absorb everything. They need to have their hand held and things explained. They need to be listened to. When I get in that busy work mode, I'm not hearing. I want to be better at that," Pitt added.