Last week Angelina Jolie inspired many with her bravery as she spoke out to reveal she has had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, as she was at an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.

So it may come as no surprise that the 39-year-old actress subscribes to the motto “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.

In an interview with Elle magazine, Angelina said: “I do believe in the old saying ‘What does not kill you makes you stronger.’ Our experiences, good and bad, make us who we are. By overcoming difficulties, we gain strength and maturity.”

Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie (Lefteris Pitarakis/AP)

Angelina, who has the BRCA1 gene, also had a double mastectomy two years ago.

She was speaking to Elle about her film Unbroken, the true story of Olympic runner Louis Zamperini, who survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash during World War II, only to be captured and sent to a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp.

Angelina said: “Like many of the greatest human stories, it is about the capacity of regular men and women to rise above adversity. It reminds us never to give up, and that having the spirit to fight is what really matters. It is powerful because it speaks to the potential inside all of us.”