The “Wanted” actress Angelina Jolie gave birth to son Knox Leon and daughter Vivienne Marcheline by caesarean section at the Lenval hospital in the southern French city of Nice late on Saturday, 12 July 2008. Actor Brad Pitt, the twins’ father, was at her side. The obstetrician who delivered the twins, Dr. Michel Sussmann said the babies and the mother are doing well. He told the AP on Sunday morning that the boy weighed just over 5 pounds and the girl 5 pounds.
Local newspaper Nice Matin, which first broke news of the birth, reported Sunday that the couple have sold rights for the first photo of their of the twins to an unnamed US magazine for $11 million, with the money going to charity.
The mayor of Nice and hospital officials say mother and babies are doing well and are expected to stay in the hospital for several more days. Eager for the opportunity to promote himself and his city, Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi arrived at the hospital to sign the birth certificates in a smart suit and wearing full make-up for TV interviews despite the sweltering conditions.
“I congratulate the happy parents, the most famous couple in the world, who have chosen our city for this happy event … The newborns are, history will not forget it, real Nicois, citizens of Nice,” a beaming Estrosi said, holding up the birth certificates in a blaze of camera flashes.
Meanwhile, Jolie’s father, Jon Voight, was thrilled with daughter Angelina Jolie’s recent delivery of twins, he told “The Insider.”
“I am deeply happy. I’m over the moon, Pat. It’s magnificent,” Voight said in a statement to the show’s host Pat O’Brien. “In this world, all we can hope for is that mommy and the kids are healthy. I’m very excited and thanks for letting me send my love to them.”
Angelina Jolie, 33, and Brad Pitt, 44, already have one biological child, Shiloh, 2, and three adopted children, Maddox, 6; Pax, 4, and Zahara, 3. Marcheline was the first name of Jolie’s mother, actress Marcheline Bertrand, who died in January 2007 after a 7 1/2-year battle with cancer.