Director of the movie Angelina Jolie poses at the premiere of "In the Land of Blood and Honey" at the Arclight theatre in Los Angeles, California, December 8, 2011. The movie opens limitedly in the U.S. on December 23.[Photo/Agencies]

Angelina Jolie is learning French.

The Oscar-winning actress' six children - Maddox, 10, Pax, eight, Zahara, six, Shiloh, five, and three-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne - can all speak the language fluently and she wants to be able to keep up with them so is having lessons.

She said: "I've been writing and staying with the kids. I think I should learn French and be a better cook - basic really good life stuff. I'm always doing something. I never shut my brain off. I always have something going on.

"I've been studying French on and off my whole life, and I figured, my kids can speak it, and it's embarrassing that I can't as well as they can, so now..."

Angelina - whose late mother Marcheline Bertrand had French-Canadian ancestry - is more determined than ever to learn the language and says it has become a priority in her life.

Although it is difficult, Angelina - who is in a long-term relationship with Brad Pitt - is confident she will be able to master it.

Being quizzed by Clint Eastwood for Interview magazine, she said: "Now, I have to. I've kind of half tried everything. It's like deciding to write something or deciding to direct or make a score of a film. It has to become a priority."