Angelina Jolie says she doesn't plan to retire from acting 'completely'

Angelina Jolie, right, and Elle Fanning wave as they pose for photographers during the Japan premiere of 'Maleficent' in Tokyo on Monday, June 23, 2014. (AP / Shizuo Kambayashi)

Angelina Jolie insists she has no plans to retire "completely."

The Oscar-winning actress -- who previously hinted she is preparing to step away from her career in front of the camera to focus on her other passions, including her humanitarian work -- plans to be much more selective, but says she will continue to take on roles that challenge her.

The 38-year-old star told reporters in Japan, ahead of the Tokyo premiere of 'Maleficent': "I'm not retiring completely, but I'm going to focus more on my writing, directing and my humanitarian work, so I will do less films and hopefully that will also make it possible to be very selective and do a few I feel really compelled to do. But I will be doing much less."

Earlier this month, Jolie, who is engaged to Brad Pitt, suggested her role in an upcoming movie about Cleopatra could be her last.

She confessed: "That's where you finish, in a great way. You kind of go, 'What could you do beyond that one?' Put it all into that one."

Jolie also opened up about her close relationship with co-star Elle Fanning, 16, and admitted she hopes her daughters, Zahara, nine, Shiloh, eight, and Vivienne, five, grow up to be like her.

She said: "She is so extremely talented, but she has also somehow, and it's a credit to her parents, maintained her kindness and humanity, and in no way feels affected by this very difficult business, so she is really a great example for women, both as an artist and as a young woman."

She added: "I hope my daughters are like her when they grow up."