Firstly, her decision to have the surgery in a bid to ensure she was there to watch her six children grow up and secondly that she told the world about it.
For a woman who makes a living from her looks and is worshipped by millions of adoring fans, admitting she had removed what were arguably her most feminine attributes must have been terrifying.
But when she did it, the world stopped, listened and learned what a Brca gene was.
The Hollywood star's double mastectomy was the lead story on the national news and her face glowed from the front page of the NZ Herald, forcing breast cancer into Kiwi households.
Around the country, stories of Kiwi families facing the reality of the Brca gene began to emerge.
Among them was Tauranga woman Jeanette Brown - one of three sisters who have all had double mastectomies.
Superstars or not, all these woman had to make the difficult decision to change the look of their bodies and lose part of themselves for the best chance in a fight genetics had forced them to take on.
Their courageous decision to speak out about the Brca gene has done more than any breast cancer awareness campaign could do.
No amount of money, celebrity or beauty could protect Jolie from the disease which killed her mother.
Her bravery has helped local survivors - the faces behind New Zealand's breast cancer statistics - come forward and show women the importance of regular breast checks.
About 2800 New Zealand women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and anyone willing to share their story is a true hero.
