"I seem to be getting a lot of things pushed my way that are strong women. It's like people see Hackers and they send me offers to play tough women with guns, the kind who wear no bra and a little tank top. I'd like to play strong women who are also very feminine"

Angelina Jolie expresses her awareness of the typecasting that has followed her early roles, particularly after her performance in the film "Hackers". She notes that after this film, she began receiving numerous offers to portray "strong women", yet these roles tend to follow a specific and narrow stereotype: tough, aggressive, often sexualized characters who wield weapons and present a traditionally 'masculine' kind of strength. Her mention of women "with guns", who "wear no bra and a little tank top", highlights how Hollywood often conflates physical toughness and sexual allure, creating a certain image of what a "strong woman" should look and behave like on screen.

Jolie’s statement also points to a broader issue in media representation, the limited imagination around female strength. Strength, she suggests, need not be at odds with femininity. She expresses a desire to play women who are powerful not just through physical means or aggressive attitudes, but also through qualities that are conventionally perceived as feminine, such as emotional intelligence, vulnerability, empathy, or grace. Her words challenge the idea that to be strong, women must reject or suppress their femininity; true strength can emerge from the whole spectrum of their identities.

This insight is particularly relevant in the context of her career, given that Jolie has played a number of characters who are both fierce and complex, such as in "Girl, Interrupted" or "Changeling". Her reflection is not just about personal preference but also a subtle critique of the industry's lack of nuanced roles for women. She advocates for broader, richer depictions that allow female characters to be multidimensional, capable of resilience, leadership, and impact while still retaining and embracing aspects of traditional femininity. Jolie’s perspective invites a reimagining of what “strong women” can be, both on screen and in society.