You’ve probably seen the headlines. Maybe you caught a snippet of an interview where she talks about "home" and felt a bit confused. Most people just assume she’s American. And honestly, they aren’t wrong—but they also aren't exactly right.
Angelina Jolie is a bit of a global enigma. If you’re looking for a quick answer, she holds dual nationality: she is a citizen of both the United States and Cambodia.
But there is a massive difference between what’s on your passport and where your roots actually go. Her story isn't just about legal paperwork; it’s about a messy, beautiful tapestry of European ancestry, a deep-seated connection to Southeast Asia, and even an honorary title from across the pond.
The American Foundation: Born and Raised in LA
Let’s start with the basics. Angelina Jolie was born Angelina Jolie Voight on June 4, 1975, in Los Angeles, California. This makes her a natural-born U.S. citizen.
Growing up in the shadow of Hollywood as the daughter of Oscar-winner Jon Voight and actress Marcheline Bertrand, her "American-ness" was pretty much baked in from day one. She attended Beverly Hills High School—the quintessential American teen experience, even if hers was a little more "goth" than most.
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But even her American identity is a bit of a melting pot. Her father’s side brings in German and Slovak roots. Her mother’s side is even more varied, with French-Canadian, Dutch, and German heritage.
"I am very proud of my American heritage," she’s mentioned in various press junkets over the years, though she’s often struggled with the "Hollywood" label that comes with it.
There’s also been a lot of talk about her Native American ancestry. Her mother, Marcheline, often claimed to have Iroquois roots. While genealogical research has mostly pointed toward a Huron ancestor from the 1600s, this connection to indigenous history has always been a point of personal pride for Jolie. It shaped her worldview long before she started collecting stamps in her passport.
What Nationality is Angelina Jolie? The Cambodian Connection
This is where things get interesting. In 2005, King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia did something pretty rare: he signed a royal decree granting Jolie Cambodian citizenship.
This wasn’t some "pay-to-play" scheme or a tax haven move. It was a formal recognition of her intense environmental and humanitarian work in the country. If you remember back to 2001, Jolie was filming Lara Croft: Tomb Raider at Angkor Wat. That trip basically cracked her world open. She saw the scars of the Khmer Rouge, the landmines still littering the jungle, and the sheer resilience of the people.
She didn't just walk away when the cameras stopped rolling.
Why the Cambodian Passport Matters
- The Maddox Factor: Her oldest son, Maddox, was born in Cambodia. Adopting him in 2002 was the catalyst for her lifelong bond with the nation.
- Conservation Lab: She pledged millions to set up a wildlife sanctuary in the Samlout district. She actually owns a home there, tucked away in the northwestern province of Battambang.
- The "Heart" Argument: In early 2025, during a film festival circuit, she told reporters that while she lives in the West, her heart is "in Cambodia."
Having that second nationality isn't just a trophy for her. It’s a legal tie to a place she considers her second home. In fact, as of early 2026, there’s been a lot of chatter in the industry that she’s looking to spend significantly more time there once her youngest kids, Knox and Vivienne, hit adulthood.
The "Dame" Difficulty: Is She British?
No, she isn't British. But it’s easy to see why people get confused.
In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Jolie as an Honorary Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (DCMG). This was for her work campaigning to end sexual violence in war zones.
Here’s the catch: because she isn't a citizen of a Commonwealth realm (like the UK, Canada, or Australia), she can’t actually call herself "Dame Angelina." She can put the letters "DCMG" after her name on official documents, but she doesn't hold a British passport. She’s essentially a very high-ranking "friend" of the UK.
A Citizen of the World (Literally)
Beyond the legalities, Jolie has a way of collecting "honorary" statuses. Sarajevo, for example, named her an honorary citizen in 2012 for her film In the Land of Blood and Honey, which highlighted the Bosnian War.
When you look at her life, the question "what nationality is Angelina Jolie?" feels almost too small. She’s a woman who has:
- Spent decades as a UNHCR Special Envoy.
- Traveled to over 60 countries on field missions.
- Built schools in Afghanistan and Kenya.
- Created the Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation to help rural Cambodian communities.
She’s basically the human embodiment of a "Global Citizen."
The Practical Takeaway
So, if you’re filling out a trivia card or settling a bet: Angelina Jolie is American-Cambodian. She holds dual citizenship. She identifies as a woman of the world. She’s got a European-heavy DNA profile, a Hollywood birth certificate, and a soul that seems to belong to the Cambodian jungle.
What You Can Learn From Her Global Path
If you’re inspired by her "citizen of the world" vibe, you don't need a royal decree to follow suit. You can start by looking into NGO volunteer opportunities or supporting organizations like the UNHCR, where she spent over 20 years. Or, if you’re a genealogy nerd, dive into your own roots—most of us are a lot more "mixed" than we realize.
The next time you see her on a red carpet, remember she’s probably thinking about her 148,000-acre conservation plot in Cambodia just as much as her next film project.
Actionable Insight: If you're interested in the legalities of dual nationality like Jolie's, check out the official U.S. State Department guidelines on dual citizenship. While the U.S. doesn't "encourage" it, they definitely recognize it, especially when it's granted for humanitarian merit.