The 36-year-old star said: ‘I had a complete emotional breakdown in the shower and Brad found me crying.

‘I felt this huge responsibility and I felt very small and, who am I to take this on?’

She added: ‘I had a complete meltdown.’

The actress took on the daunting project of writing and directing the love story, which is set in the Bosnian war.

And while she is determined to tell the tale in order to raise awareness, she is unsure as to whether she will return to her behind the scenes role.

She said: ‘I didn’t plan to become a director, and I still have trouble saying I’m a director.

‘I just wanted to tell this story and I ended up by default being the director.

‘It was a pleasure but I wonder if it would be a pleasure with another cast and crew, and a subject matter that wasn’t so special.’

The Salt star was captivated by hearing heart-wrenching stories of people’s experiences living through the Bosnian war, but says at the time it happened, when she was aged 17, she was unaware of its seriousness.

She said: ‘I knew very little, like most Americans.

‘I was 17 so I wasn’t very focussed. I was my own form of self-destructive, and it was a bad time.’

She later came back to the subject and added: ‘I was a punk… you don’t imagine you could ever be a role model.’

Jolie has clearly proven her directorial ability as the movie, which is released in Europe in February, has been nominated for an award at the Golden Globes.

The subject matter, which is close to her heart, has helped her to realise the importance of teaching her children certain values.

When asked by a fan what lessons she wished to pass onto her children, the actress said ‘compassion and respect’.

She said: ‘I want my children to be aware of the world around them and have respect for all people around the world.’

She added: ‘From the nature of the make-up of my family, they learn a lot abot each other. They dont see this divide which is dangerous.’

Source: dailymail.co.uk