Now, we can see her play a similarly devilish character in a much rawer way thanks to a video the Daily Mail unearthed of one of Jolie’s acting classes.

It features Jolie rehearsing a scene with another actor, and she attempts a range of emotional levels, screaming ferociously, smiling manically, sobbing dramatically, giggling charmingly, and so on.

After a series of unsuccessful auditions in which she was told she was “too dark”, Jolie’s first professional role came aged 17, in the straight-to-VHS Cyborg 3, released in 1993. You know, I’m gonna e-mail Ellen, she decides, what do I have to lose?

“I need to hurt you”, says Jolie with a smile as she acts in the clip.

Looking at the footage, one can see that she still has a ways to go before she becomes the polished actress that she is today.

In recent years, there have been rumors that the Unbroken director plans to retire from the business, particularly after she admitted in 2011 interview that she has lost some of her passion for acting.

“I thought your eyes were wonderful”. Something was really connected. You didn’t allow it to just keep going there, you changed it lots of times.

Well, these acting classes must have done her some good.

Jolie resumed her career, winning an Oscar for her performance in the 2000 film Girl, Interrupted, before finding blockbuster success the next year as Lara Croft, the action heroine at the centre of the Tomb Raider franchise.