Angelina Jolie and 'Unbroken' Star Jack O'Connell: 6 New EW Portraits

''I wanted someone relatively unknown [to play Louis Zamperini]. It had to be someone with a true masculinity that men would respond to as well as women. He needed to have a genuine strength of character, a toughness, and a great sense of humor.'' —Angelina Jolie

''When I first met Jack, there was something about the way he holds himself and something about his own experiences that felt like he understood Louie. He's a little wild. As an actor, he's unpredictable, so he's fascinating to watch.'' —Angelina Jolie

''There was a huge sense of responsibility. It was like nothing I've had before. I just felt like I had to try and get comfortable being out of my depth and know that if I just took it day by day, I'd get to the last day. But you learn not to think about yourself or your own problems. That's an attribute of Angelina that's influenced me from the beginning. Louie's, too.'' —Jack O'Connell

''She's an inspirational leader: very calm and very organized. Her support was crucial in order for me to be capable of doing it.'' —Jack O'Connell

''I think [Jack and I] maybe both have a restlessness. We both want to be doing a thousand other things, and it's hard to make us still.'' —Angelina Jolie

''We both like the process of acting—it's a desire to communicate with others and a release for all the questions we have inside and all the pain and frustration. When you have an opportunity to express all that you're grateful.'' —Angelina Jolie

For more on Angelina Jolie's World War II epic, pick up a copy of EW on newsstands this week or buy the issue here (available soon).