A brave Australian woman who underwent a double mastectomy like Angelina Jolie was lucky enough to meet the Hollywood director at the world premiere of her film, Unbroken.
Sydney’s Krystal Barter is BCRA1 positive, which means she is has a high risk of developing breast cancer, and had the preventative procedure to reduce the chances of getting the disease.
The 30-year-old was one of just people who were personally greeted by the star and her actor husband, Brad Pitt, on Monday night.
Ms Barter, who was dubbed ‘Australia’s Angelina Jolie’ for the similarities between her story and Jolie’s, shared an intimate moment with the actress when they embraced on the red carpet, appearing to have an instant understanding of each other from having been through the same experience.
Both Unbroken: Emotional moment Angelina Jolie embraced brave Australian woman who also had a double mastectomy… then met inspirational burns victim Turia Pitt at Sydney film premiere
A brave Australian woman who underwent a double mastectomy like Angelina Jolie was lucky enough to meet the Hollywood director at the world premiere of her film, Unbroken.
Sydney’s Krystal Barter is BCRA1 positive, which means she is has a high risk of developing breast cancer, and had the preventative procedure to reduce the chances of getting the disease.
The 30-year-old was one of just people who were personally greeted by the star and her actor husband, Brad Pitt, on Monday night.
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Embrace: Angelina Jolie shared a touching moment with Australian Krystal Barter, who like the actress was diagnosed with the BCRA1 and underwent a double-mastectomy
Arriving in style: Angelina Jolie arrived at the Sydney premiere of WWII biopic Unbroken alongside husband Brad Pitt on Monday night
At Ang’s request: Jolie wanted to meet Krystal during her trip to Down Under after learning of her inspirational story and work through Pink Hope
Ms Barter, who was dubbed ‘Australia’s Angelina Jolie’ for the similarities between her story and Jolie’s, shared an intimate moment with the actress when they embraced on the red carpet, appearing to have an instant understanding of each other from having been through the same experience.
‘It was incredibly overwhelming. Angelina was absolutely humble and beautiful,’ Ms Barter told Daily Mail Australia.
She was one of six inspirational Australians Jolie wanted to meet at the premiere of her film.
‘She chose inspirational Aussies to walk the red carpet with her (including burns survivor Turia Pitt). We’re incredibly honoured and she gave us the spotlight for a night to showcase what we stand for – it’s a testament to the type of person she was,’ Ms Barter said.
‘Angelina is not only someone that a lot of people look up to, but she’s someone who has been through so much personally.
‘She spent quite a lot of time with all of us before the premiere… it is a moment I will always cherish and remember.’
Looking glamorous for her meeting with Angelina, Ms Barter wore a sleek black dress and heels paired fittingly with pink lipstick – the colour associated with her charity called Pink Hope.
The charity aims to support women suffering from heredity breast and ovarian cancer, and runs an annual awareness campaign called Bright Pink Lipstick Day.
Ms Barter was 22 when she found out she carried the faulty BRCA1 gene. She was just 25 when she had a double mastectomy – four years before Angelina Jolie famously revealed she underwent the procedure.
Jolie requested the company of Ms Barter at the premiere after learning of her story and her tireless work through Pink Hope.
‘I can remember in my hospital bed feeling alone and afraid – people thought I was crazy having my breast removed at 25. It lead me on the path of Pink Hope… to actually be recognised (by Jolie) on that level is an incredible moment,’ Ms Barter said.
Three days after Angelina Jolie made her announcement, the number of people accessing Pink Hope’s services jumped 701 per cent.
‘What’s changed is people actually have looked at Pink Hope as the charity they need guidance and information from. Angelina just didn’t raise the profile, she catapulted it. It’s testament to her,’ Ms Barter said.
Like Ms Barter, Jolie had the same procedure done last year with fears she would succumb to the illness that took her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, at 56 in 2007.
When the actress learned she had an 87 per cent chance of developing breast cancer because she had inherited the BRCA1 gene, which had led to her mother’s death from cancer, she made the decision to go through with the surgery.
The gene increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
On Monday night, Jolie also met inspirational Australian Turia Pitt, who survived burns to 64 per cent of her body after being caught in a bushfire in 2011, and since recovering from the ordeal has gone on to be a motivational speaker and author.
Turia, 24, shared the incredible moment she and her boyfriend Michael Hoskin came face-to-face with Angelina and husband Brad Pitt on the red carpet with her Instagram followers.
‘What a privilege to meet this extraordinary couple,’ she said of the encounter.
Looking radiant in a strapless, fishtailed Gucci dress, Angelina greeted thousands of fans who lined the streets by Sydney’s State Theatre before strutting her stuff on the red carpet.
Angelina and Brad, 50, pulled up in a black Range Rover to greet their fans and stop for photos before walking the red carpet for the movie – which was largely filmed in New South Wales.
The statuesque brunette was dressed in a floor length, strapless silver gown with dark detailing and a fish tail finish.
She accessorised with diamond earrings and her trademark smile.
Thousands of fans turned out to see the Hollywood dame, whose hair was swept up into a chignon and flaunted skin that looked luminous as ever.
One fan brought a plush koala toy to gift Angelina, while another tried to launch herself over the railings.
While she stopped to talk to media, her husband worked the crowds – taking time to individually greet their adoring fans.
For his part, Brad looked sharp wearing a black suit and tie over a crisp white shirt.
The World War Z actor had his hair slicked back and donned a pair of sunglasses, looking handsome as he sported some well-kept facial hair.
Angelina spoke to Daily Mail Australia at the event about her marriage with Brad, saying that ‘we just feel that much closer.’
‘It makes us happy to be married’ she explained, before admitting ‘I don’t think we needed it but it just feels like he’s my husband.’
The pair tied the knot in August after two years of engagement – which itself came after seven years of being together.
The Maleficent actress doesn’t star in the film – instead, she directs it. Unbroken is based on Laura Hilenbrand’s 2010 novel Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.
It follows the real life story of Olympic runner Louis Zamperini, who was taken prisoner by Japanese forces during the second World War.
Angelina added that she’s excited for her six children, Maddox, 13, Pax, 10, Zahara, 9, Shiloh, 8, Knox, 6 and Vivienne, 6, to see the flick.
‘Shiloh came to his funeral and [he’s] very connected emotionally to him and so she wants to see it most of all,’ Angelina said.
‘They’re all very emotional about the story and I look forward to them seeing it because I think it’s very good for children, it’s got good messages.’
The power couple were joined at the premiere by Unbroken’s producer Matthew Baer, it’s leading man Jack O’Connell, and musician Miyavi Ishihara, who plays a prison guard in the flick.
Matthew told Daily Mail Australia that having the project directed by Angelina ‘was a blessing, a dream…she had a very clear vision from the start.’
‘We assembled an amazing team of actors, great writers…[she] was the best thing that could of possibly have happened to Unbroken,’ he added.
Jack admitted that Angelina was a source of much appreciated knowledge, saying she gave him ‘plenty’ of tips.
‘I needed them. She wanted the best of the both of us’ he said in reference to himself and Miyavi, ‘I can only hope we achieve that.’
Unbroken is due for a release in the US on December 25, while Australians will have to wait until January 15.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
