Angelina Jolie is no longer "selfish" now she has children.
The 'Salt' actress -- who raises Maddox, 10, Pax, eight, Zahara, seven, Shiloh, five, and three-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne with her partner Brad Pitt -- has learned what her purpose is in life, and finds being a mother particularly fulfilling.
She said: "I think being a mother teaches you a lot about love and togetherness and a sense of shared purpose. You stop living selfishly and your only thoughts are about how you can help your children be happy and learn about the world.
"From a young age I was searching for something to hold on to in terms of giving me a sense of purpose.
"When I started with UNESCO, that fulfilled a great need for me to be helping people and feel that I was doing something positive in the world. I think adopting a child and starting a family was an extension of all that because it meant that I was helping make someone's life safe and happy."
However, she admits she and Brad have had to suffer with one consequence all young families struggle with -- a lack of sleep.
She added to OK! magazine: "It (the family) plays havoc with our sleep mainly. We try to schedule evenings when we're not looking after the children and we can be by ourselves.
"Sometimes, though, we're so tired that we just fall asleep on the couch. Ever since the twins were born, I've rarely been able to stay up very late.
"As soon as I've put the kids to bed, it doesn't take me long before I've nodded off."
