Losing Is Not An Option For Angie

Brad Pitt is over the moon at a recent custody victory but his defiant ex is not going to take it lying down

- Nici De Wet

SHE may be blessed with almost otherworldly beauty but anyone who has even a passing know­ ledge of what makes her tick will tell you one thing: she’s a tough cookie.

Mess with Angelina Jolie at your peril, they’ll tell you. She knows what she wants and she gets it – and if you get in her way, beware.

Right now, she wants to win her custody case against Brad Pitt at all costs.

Angie (45) has steadfastly refused to give in to her ex’s request for more time with their kids. And she’s still not backing down, despite a new court ruling that’s given Brad (57) temporary joint custody of Pax (17), Zahara (16), Shiloh (15), and 12­year­old twins Vivienne and Knox.

Their eldest, Maddox (19), is an adult so isn’t subject to the custody arrangement.

John Ouderkirk – the long­standing pri­vate judge the former love­birds hired to oversee the case – made the decision after months of hearing testimonies from peo­ple who’d spent time around the family.

Witness names were submitted late last year by Brad and Angie and included former personal assistants, bodyguards, psychologists, social workers and, in Angie’s case, even former co­stars.

The former couple also took to the stand in a court hearing held behind closed doors.

Ouderkirk’s ruling was a detailed one, an insider says. But it’s still “tentative” – so either side can still ask for modifications. And you can bet Angie is going to.

Still, right now Brad’s camp is consid­ering it a major victory and the star is said to be “incredibly happy”.