Despite the fact that Angelina Jolie famously met her husband, Brad Pitt, on a movie set in which she was one of the lead characters, it would seem that the actress that brought Lara Croft to life is not as comfortable in the limelight as her previous behaviour may have led us all to believe.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
Angelina Jolie says she's ready to retire from acting and even directing a film in which both she and Brad Pitt star is not putting her off

In fact, as the media trail for Unbroken, the second movie in which she occupies the director’s chair, starts to roll out internationally, it would appear that Mrs Pitt is ready to give up a life on the screen completely.

Speaking to Du Jour magazine in an interview about her new film that charts the life of Olympic runner turned U.S airman Louis Zamperini, she explains that she is "absolutely" ready to retire and refocus her ambitions on movie-making.

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"I’ve never been comfortable as an actor; I’ve never loved being in front of a camera," she said. "I didn’t think ever think I could direct, but I hope I’m able to have a career at it because I’m much happier."

However, it would appear that directing is not a total walk in the park as Jolie admits the challenges she faced in taking on the epic story of Zamperini, a former Olympic track athelete who survived a plane crash over sea, only to be rescued by the Japanese and then spend two years in a POW camp.

She explained that she told Brad: "I’m really curious about this film" and he responded with: "Oh, honey, that project has been around forever." Fortunately for film lovers, and actor Jack O'Connell who plays the lead role, she wasn't to be deterred. 

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Jolie is also experiencing some difficulties with her third directed film in which both she and her husband play a couple with relationship problems.

Of that romantic comedy, By the Sea, she said: "The tricky thing is directing myself and directing Brad. It’s hard, dramatic material but we’re balancing."

To check out whether you think Angie is better as a director, Unbroken is out in the UK on Boxing Day or if you’d rather see her acting, By the Sea is due out in 2015.