Angelina Jolie is one of the most tatted A-listers in Hollywood. She has over 18 different pieces of body art (and those are just the ones we can see and know about), but while the majority line her arms and back, the actress just unveiled a brand new inking in a bold new spot.
While attending the 77th annual Tony Awards in New York, Angelina wore a ruched green velvet sweetheart neckline ballgown from Atelier Versace, with her long hair blown-out and bouncy. But when she tossed her hair behind her back and away from her chest, we noticed a new dainty detail that we mistook for a necklace on first glance. When we zoomed in, we realised it was a black ink design of a bird, which looks to be a swallow, around the size of a 50-pence-piece perched in the centre of her breastbone.
Kristina Bumphrey
Although the meaning behind it will be personal to Angelina, according to the U.S. Naval institute: “legend has it that tattoos began when seven sailors from a ship called the Swallow each tattooed a swallow on his chest to mark their mutiny. Tradition, though, generally holds that a swallow tattoo is used measure how far a sailor travels. Originally, a swallow was earned every 5,000 nautical miles.”
It adds: “swallows often were the first birds sailors would see when nearing land, and they came [to] represent homecoming.” So, while Angelina will have her own reasons for the design, the swallow is known to be a symbol of rebellion, of growth (and travelling the distance), of hope, of discovery, but also of rediscovery and coming back home.
Alongside debuting her new tattoo, Angelina took the opportunity to share the important moment with her youngest daughter, Vivienne, who co-ordinated with her mother in a matching green waistcoat and trouser two-piece, complete with a white shirt and bow-tie.
Angelina Jolie attended the Tonys to support new musical, The Outsiders, which she co-produced. It was nominated for 12 awards, and Angelina took home the trophy for best new musical.
For more from GLAMOUR’s Senior Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, follow her on Instagram @elleturneruk
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