Brad Pitt hails 'heroic' Angelina Jolie after mastectomy

LONDON - Agence France-Presse

Actor Brad Pitt presents the award for movie of the year at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards in Culver City, California April 14.. REUTERS photo

Brad Pitt on May 14 hailed his fiancee Angelina Jolie as "absolutely heroic" after the Oscar-winning actress revealed that she has had a double mastectomy to reduce her high risk of breast cancer.

Pitt, 49, told London's Evening Standard newspaper: "Having witnessed this decision firsthand, I find Angie's choice, as well as so many others like her, absolutely heroic.

"I thank our medical team for their care and focus." The Hollywood superstar added: "All I want for is for her to have a long and healthy life, with myself and our children. This is a happy day for our family." Jolie, 37, revealed to The New York Times in an article published Tuesday that she had undergone the surgery after discovering that she had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer because of a "faulty" gene.

Pitt and Jolie, often known simply as "Brangelina", have three biological children and threeadopted children.

The Hollywood megastar couple became engaged in April 2012, but Jolie dispelled rumours last month that they had secretly married.