Angelina Jolie puts her protracted divorce to one side as she attends the 81st Venice Film Festival premiere of Maria in a sweeping floor-length gown… after hinting at the ‘despair’ and ‘pain’ of her separation from Brad Pitt

The dark cloud of divorce made way for azure blue skies on Thursday as Angelina Jolie attended the 81st annual Venice Film Festival premiere of Maria. 

The actress, currently in the throes of a protracted divorce from Brad Pitt, made a welcome red carpet appearance ahead of the film’s first official screening, in competition, at the annual ceremony.

Jolie looked stunning in an elegant floor-length evening gown with off-the-shoulder detailing as she greeted photographers on day two of this year’s festival.