Angelina Jolie on Fashion, Beauty, "The Tourist" and Some Guy Named Brad

PARIS – The sky is slate gray and the early morning fog blocks the Eiffel Tower in the City of Love. I'm waiting in the most lavish hotel suite at Hotel Meurice for the biggest female movie star since the late Elizabeth Taylor.

In fact, she is our modern day Liz. That's never more apparent than when Angelina Jolie stands in the ten-foot double doors, one slim hand on each of the gold doorknobs.

Madonna knew nothing about striking a pose. Jolie is the master.

It's hard to know where to look first. There are those saucer eyes, which are huge and free of any makeup except a swipe or two of mascara. Her thick auburn hair is trapped in a high ponytail. The infamous curves are playing host today to a light gray cashmere dress that hugs every swerve.

She's a national monument in grey stilettos.

Yes, the lips are real and void of anything except a sheer gloss. Someone dares to hold a knife to those babies in her new film. "It was a dull knife. No injuries," she insists.

No need to call for an emergency session of the UN.

The mother of the International House of Pitt, the humanitarian and the actress is oblivious to the hoopla including the throngs of paparazzi lathering outside the hotel. She laughs when you ask her about beauty amid the craziness. "When you have six children, it's enough to just be able to jump in the shower and throw your hair up in this ponytail," she says.

HANGING OUT AT HOME WITH BRAD AND SHOPPING

As for getting all dolled up for that Significant Other, some guy named Pitt, she says, "Our best nights are in our pajamas at home. No fuss." In fact, she's a clean and natural girl even when out and about during her personal hours.

"Traditionally, I'm not a person who looks for more attention," she says.

That might be the understatement of the century.

Jolie is in Paris to talk about her film "The Tourist," which is just out on DVD. But she's nothing if not great at multitasking. In fact, she just returned from a Girl's Morning Out with her daughters. "They always need pants and shoes," she says. "Most of the time, I just order everything from a catalog. We're not always in the same country for long, so you have to stay ahead of it."

A TRUE FASHION MAVEN

In "The Tourist," Jolie plays Elise, a gorgeous mystery woman (what else) who lures a poor math teacher (Johnny Depp) into an international, country-hopping scheme that nearly gets both of them killed. The film is a throwback to an old Hitchcock film including the stunning woman driving the action.

Ask her about comparisons to other great beauties from that era and mention Sophia Loren.

"I'll take it," Jolie says with a giggle. "I wasn't conscious of channeling Sophia for this role in 'The Tourist,' but maybe she was in my subconscious.

"She's one of the great women in the back of your mind when you do heavy black eyeliner. I think every woman gets out that eyeliner and thinks Sophia Loren," she says. "I know I do."

Jolie wears the most scrumptious tailored dresses and knee-length suits in "The Tourist." "The wardrobe was a pleasure. It was an escape into this lovely world," she says. "The elegance of a beautiful woman's suit or perfectly tailored dress is how I wish I could walk around Paris today. I wish everyone could feel this elegant. I was living in an old movie.'

Jolie says it wasn't easy to be that type of fashionista. "I was really cinched in and it was hard to move around," she moans. "But I did love that the shoes matched my gloves, which matched my handbag and that matched the thing in my hair."

In real life, she cautions that no one should expect this look. What's a typical day at the French compound with the kids? "It's jeans and a T-shirt or a long sun-dress if the weather cooperates. I wear a lot of flat shoes because I'm running after toddlers," she says.

"But I think it's fun for every woman to step away from the jeans and put on their most glamorous outfit. It's fun to step into that world even if it's just for a few moments."

HANDLING IT ALL

Jolie says her life is a careful balancing act. "Brad and I never work at the same time," she says. "I'm very lucky as a mother that I get to spend so much time with my children. When I work, Brad's home and taking them to school or bringing them to the set. He's an extremely hands-on, committed father and it's nice for them to have extra Daddy time."

This May the whole brood will come to Cannes. Brad will premiere his "Tree of Life" and Jolie will launch "Kung Fu Panda 2."

The former wild child is glad she settled down even if her life is conducted in many locales.

"I think the older you get the wisdom really does come into your life. This is also the happiest I've ever been in life.

"Being grounded allows you to be more free," she says.

"There's a funny misconception that when you're younger and you're wild that it's the most fun because life is out of control," she says. "I've found that being older is a lot more fun because you can tackle bigger things and you have a foundation.

"My children provide enough chaos around me to create a life I never expected," she muses.

"Life is very full," Jolie says with a smile.

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