Angelina Jolie admits that 'things got bad' with Brad Pitt

In a Vanity Fair cover story released Wednesday afternoon, Angelina Jolie admits that she's gotten good at "picking up dog poop."

It's one of the few funny personal tidbits she shares in her first long interview following her divorce from actor Brad Pitt.

The piece is filled with riveting details regarding Jolie's film for Netflix First They Killed My Father, a movie based on the life of Jolie's dear friend Loung Ung. It's clear that Jolie can speak forever about Cambodia, her son's relationship with his country, and her friend—in addition to her health (she reveals a bell's palsy diagnosis) and women's health.

But of course, she understands the questions about her divorce with Pitt is on the tip of everyone's tongues, and she avoids sharing details like the professional public figure she has become. Here's how she worked around VF'squestions regarding the split.

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On the months leading up to the divorce

By the time First They Killed My Fatherwas in postproduction, in the summer of 2016, “things got bad,” says Jolie. “I didn’t want to use that word. . . . Things became ‘difficult.’ ”

On whether or not Hollywood impacted their family dynamic

“[Our lifestyle] was not in any way a negative,” she says quickly, adamantly. “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’ve been very brave. They were very brave.”

Brave when?

“In times they needed to be.”

On her current relationship with Pitt:

“We care for each other and care about our family, and we are both working towards the same goal.”

On her children's thoughts throughout the divorce:

“I was very worried about my mother, growing up—a lot. I do not want my children to be worried about me. I think it’s very important to cry in the shower and not in front of them. They need to know that everything’s going to be all right even when you’re not sure it is.”

Don't worry—like she said, she's gotten good at handling dog poop.