Womanly mother Angelina Jolie

Sep 12, 2008, 11:10 GMT

05/20/2008 - Angelina Jolie - 2008 Cannes Film Festival - "Changeling" Photocall - Palais des Festivals - Cannes, France © Pixplanete / PR Photos

Angelina Jolie says her children have "made" her a woman.

The 'Wanted' actress - who recently gave birth to twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, her fifth and sixth children with partner Brad Pitt - admits she has grown as a person since becoming a mother.

She said: "I love being a mom. It's my favourite thing to do. It's the most fun and challenging thing I have ever done, and I've learnt a lot about myself along the way.

"I have become more patient, for a start. And my kids have really made me a woman - I just didn't know I had this softness before, this nurturing side. Also, they remind me to be silly. We play and I laugh with them. So they have taught me to be a woman, but also reminded me to be a little kid, and that's amazing."

Angelina also spoke about how Brad copes with being a father to so many children.

She added to Britain's Cosmopolitan magazine: "Brad is a great dad. It means a lot to me that I have him in my life and be there for our kids. I was prepared to raise them without a father, although I would have preferred to have a man at my side.

"That's one thing I never expected when I got involved with Brad - you can't know if a man will be a good dad without seeing him in that role. Brad is so good with my first adopted son Maddox and they have bonded in such a beautiful way that it almost makes me cry - and I never cry!"