Angelina Jolie has said she signed up for action movie Wanted to help her cope with the recent death of her mother.

The 33-year-old actress's mother, Marcheline Bertrand, passed away in February last year after battling cancer.

Consequently, Jolie said she felt as though she was sliding into depression and began to look for a movie role that would steer her away from negative thoughts.

Wanted – with its frenetic pace and high quota of stunts – proved to be therapeutic for the Tomb Raider star.

"My mother had just passed away and I wanted to do something physical to get it out of my head for a while," she said.

"I felt I was going into a very dark place and I wasn't capable of getting up in the morning, so I signed up for something that would force me to be active."

The actress has recently been admitted to a French hospital in preparation for the birth of her twins.

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