London, June 23 (IANS) Actress Angelina Jolie says being a mother has been one of the greatest surprises of her life and her maternal feeling deepened after she started adopting children and living with Brad Pitt.

Jolie raises adopted children Maddox, nine, Pax, six, Zahara, five, and biological kids, Shiloh, five, and two-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne with partner Pitt.

"It's been one of the great surprises of my life. When I was younger I never imagined being a mother and then those maternal feelings really evolved and deepened once I began adopting and started living with Brad, which made me want to have children of our own," femalefirst.co.uk quoted the 36-year-old as saying.

"I feel truly at ease when I know I've helped give them a safe and hopeful life. A big family can generate a lot of chaos, but it's also a source of inner peace - the best feeling in the world. I'm much less anxious about life and so much more light-hearted and carefree," she added.