Jolie: Tough scene brought cast together

NEW YORK, June 18 (UPI) -- Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie says shooting a harrowing scene in "A Mighty Heart" was exhausting, but also helped her bond with her cast-mates.

In the film, Jolie plays Mariane Pearl, a real-life journalist whose reporter/husband, Daniel, was slain by terrorists in Pakistan in 2002.

The Oscar-winning actress told UPI director Michael Winterbottom gave her tremendous freedom in acting out a scene in which courageous Mariane weeps uncontrollably upon learning of Daniel's death.

"We did it about -- not too many times -- five times? I don't remember. I think they used most of the first time," Jolie recalled.

She also said the day the scene was shot was an emotional one since the cast and crew were all deeply affected by the Pearls' tragic story.

"At the end of the day, we had all been crying for so long that we all needed to sit down and try to make each other get silly again," Jolie said. "We were all puffy and exhausted and all just felt so much closer to each other."