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Angelina Jolie: a name that rings like a clarion call in the world of action-adventure cinema! If Hollywood had a Hall of Fame for butt-kicking heroines, she’d be the first inductee, no questions asked. From her iconic role as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider to Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the mother of six has gracefully danced through the action genre like a ballerina in combat boots.
Angelina Jolie in Original Sin (2001) | Credit: MGM Distribution Co.But let’s not forget that the actress, 49, is more than just a fierce femme fatale; she’s tempted audiences in films like Changeling, and Original Sin. Nonetheless, it’s the latter that landed her in a bit of a pickle. Well, it all started when she made some comments regarding his co-star Antonio Banderas’ ex-wife that didn’t sit too well with the public.
Angelina Jolie and the Sizzling Scandal of Original Sin
Ah, Original Sin, the 2001 film that could make even a saint blush! When it comes to Hollywood’s hottest blockbusters, this one was like stepping into a sauna—steamy, intense, and definitely controversial.
Directed by Michael Cristofer, the flick stirred up quite a buzz, especially with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) breathing down its neck. According to the Los Angeles Times, Cristofer had to chop down some steamy scenes to secure that precious R rating:
I got nailed by the censors. I know they don’t like to be called censors, but they are. This film is about s*xual obsession, and I had to cut, for my money, just too much of the s*x.
Original Sin (2001) | Credit: MGM Distribution Co.But the drama didn’t stop at the editing bay. As if the film’s heat wasn’t enough, tabloids had a field day speculating about Melanie Griffith, who was then married to Antonio Banderas. Rumor had it that she was feeling a bit jealous of the sizzling chemistry between her former husband and Angelina Jolie. While the latter maintained that she and Griffith were friendly, the tabloids weren’t buying it.
In a playful moment, she joked that she’d rather sleep with Griffith than Banderas. The actress later clarified, told ABC News (via Nicki Swift):
I was being playful. It was my way of saying that he’s married to a beautiful woman and I’d sooner sleep with her than have an affair with him.
Well, that’s one way to diffuse a rumor—only for it to explode into another sensational headline. Original Sin also starred Thomas Jane & Jack Thompson.
Original Sin: Angelina Jolie Hit a Home Run Against Scandal?
Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas in Original Sin (2001) | Credit: MGM Distribution Co.Now, it’s one thing to portray a passionate married couple in Original Sin, but it’s another when the tabloids start spinning tales of scandal. Angelina Jolie, fed up with the chatter, stepped up to the plate and hit a home run in an ABC interview. She made it clear that she’d never consider dating Antonio Banderas, let alone cheating on him, since both actors were then happily committed to their partners. She stated:
You’re talking about a man who is deeply in love with his wife [actress Melanie Griffith], and married; he has beautiful children with her, and they’re such a great family. And I’m madly in love with my husband [actor Billy Bob Thornton], we have such a great relationship, and the idea that either one of us would want anything more than our marriages is really insulting and angering.
With that declaration, she slammed the door on those rumors.
Critically, however, Original Sin didn’t fare too well. With a mere 12% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s safe to say that not everyone was swooning over this flick.
Anyway, we last saw Jolie in Maria, a 2024 biographical, psychological drama that dives deep into the life of opera legend Maria Callas. The former takes center stage as the titular character, joined by a talented supporting cast including Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alba Rohrwacher, and Valeria Golino.
Original Sin is streaming on Pluto TV.
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