The film star Angelina Jolie has urged pupils at a secondary school in Whitechapel to make a “big, beautiful mess”.

The Hollywood star, 44, was due to be on tour promoting her new film release Maleficent: Mistress of Evil but took time out to mark the International Day of the Girl on Friday, October 11. 

Jolie was joined in the meeting by her co-star Elle Fanning, 21. Jolie told the Mulberry school for girls that being “perfect” was “boring” and that it is more important to be yourself than strive to be perfect as she said its more “attractive and so interesting”. 

She said: “I remember when I was in acting class and there was this girl who was the prettiest.

“She did this thing and she was lovely and she was safe and she did this scene. It was perfect – and it was boring. My opinion. I won’t say her name.

“And then this other woman came and she didn’t look like people would say she was attractive. But she was just so full of life.

“She was so herself – and she came across as so attractive and so interesting.

“I remember thinking: ‘That’s it, I admire that woman, I want to be that woman.’

“Make a big, beautiful mess and be open. That is what will pull you through and make you happy.

“You will find success in it because you will be bringing something strong to the table.”

Jolie is not only known for her acting, but her humanitarian work and is the special envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

International day of the Girl aims to bring attention to girls rights and the global challenges they face. This day is supported by many profile celebrities including, The Duchess of Sussex .

A pupil asked Jolie what lesson she would have taught herself in her younger years, she replied: “I am a big believer that we have to make mistakes in life and learn from them.

“And that we are who we are because of all the things we have done right and wrong. We grow.

“So I would probably have to say hold on and know that you will find a lot of answers in your children, because I did.”