BRISTOL FASHION

I have been meaning write to Angelina Jolie for some time and was thinking of mentioning her breasts.  I'm glad I didn't write as intended, because I can now write to her without embarrassment and focus entirely on her breasts.

I know lots of people have written about this, but what would be the point of not blogging about it when it has affected me so utterly?

You may remember there was a bit of controversy, although not so much disagreement I seem to remember among pubescent males of all ages, when Lara Croft 2 was unveiled (so to speak) with eye-catching (literally if you were too close and of a certain height), enhanced and somewhat gravity-defying female protuberances. There was little such controversy when Angelina was chosen to play the part, for fairly conspicuous reasons.  Not much of what I have read about her brave decision to undergo a double mastectomy has referred to that fact.

I am just so impressed and in awe when anyone willingly subjects themselves to so dramatic a procedure. Of course she rationalises it with statistics and makes somewhat light of the unavoidable nature of the decision.  But that doesn't make it any easier in fact. There are plenty of women (even now coming forward because of her action) who didn't take the decision, despite the logic of the numbers.

The reports have referred almost entirely to the campaigning nature of Angelina's recent work and how this surgery fits in with that.  It praises her for the influence her action will have on the decisions and lives of others.  That is undoubtedly true.  She has done some very special things.  And this latest act and her decision to publicise it will certainly have an impact - already is having an impact. I laud her actions.

But I just wanted to add that this is not just another celeb doing good work; not just a person in the spotlight taking advantage of publicity; this is someone who no doubt considered her breasts among her most important assets (I know I did and no doubt the director of Lara Croft did too).  How much braver can you be than to submit yourselves to surgery to lose something that is so important to your image.  OK, she isn't losing them exactly and these days one never knows what's real and what isn't, but to then reveal your actions to your public, that is something else.

Angelina, I salute you.  And I'm sorry about that last letter, please tear it up now.