At the Toronto International Film Festival, Salma Hayek Pinault has praised Angelina Jolie’s nurturing presence on the set of Without Blood, the latest film directed and written by Jolie.
Jolie’s directorial project, which is based on Alessandro Baricco’s 2002 novel, has been generating buzz, and Hayek Pinault, who stars alongside Demián Bichir, described the experience as profoundly comforting. “Despite our close friendship, I was still taken aback by how warm, generous, and kind Angelina was as a director. It truly felt like home,” Hayek Pinault, 58, shared during an interview at the PEOPLE/Entertainment Weekly suite on September 8.
The dynamic between the two actresses has evolved over the years. Hayek Pinault and Jolie previously worked together on the 2021 Marvel film Eternals. Reflecting on their collaboration in Without Blood, Hayek Pinault observed, “In Eternals, I played a bit of a motherly role for her. This time, she was the maternal figure, guiding the set like a family.”
Jolie’s approach to directing appears to be deeply influenced by her own experiences as an actress. “She was an incredibly efficient leader and emotionally supportive throughout the process,” Hayek Pinault noted. “She brought a familial warmth to the set that was both efficient and emotionally enriching.”
Jolie’s directorial career includes notable works such as In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011), Unbroken (2014), By the Sea (2015), and First They Killed My Father (2017). Hayek Pinault previously expressed her admiration for Jolie’s directorial skills, calling her “probably the best director I’ve ever worked with” in 2022.
Without Blood explores themes of family, trauma, and revenge, focusing on a woman (played by Hayek Pinault) who endures violence and the man (Bichir) responsible for it. Hayek Pinault reflected on her transformative experience working on the film: “It was life-changing. I felt seen and supported in a way that allowed me to discover new aspects of my craft.”
Jolie, who also stars in Maria, explained her interest in the film’s themes in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “Having spent significant time in conflict zones, I’ve witnessed both the best and worst of humanity. The film is less about why atrocities occur and more about how people endure them,” Jolie stated. “I am deeply moved by those who maintain their grace despite their suffering, and I find such resilience profoundly inspiring.”