It appears that Angelina Jolie is ready to move past the phase of her life when she focused solely on her six children. Recently, she has been seen more often in the company of men, engaging with them in ways that hint at a deeper connection than simple friendship. Just days ago, she surprised even her most forgiving fans with news of a notably close friendship with a young actor who is two years younger than her 23-year-old son, Maddox.

This young man is 21-year-old Jason Schmidt, who has become her protégé. Initially, Jolie, who is now a producer for a Broadway adaptation of an old Francis Ford Coppola film, cast him in the play. Now, she is actively promoting Jason and ensuring that he gets noticed. Unsurprisingly, the former wife of Brad Pitt is enjoying the time spent with this charming young man.

Angelina is not only dedicating a lot of time to Jason, but she also offered him space at her studio, Atelier Jolie, for a private concert, inviting her friends to attend. She even advertised the event on her social media.

The revelation of Jolie’s unexpected young friend has taken fans by surprise, particularly since they had been discussing her close ties with another man—rapper Akala. She was first seen with him a year and a half ago and has since made several public appearances alongside him. This fall, she brought him to the Venice Film Festival, and Akala has become a regular presence at her premieres, both in the U.S. and internationally. For example, he accompanied her to London, where, according to an insider, they spent two nights together at a hotel.