A Louth businessman who was a security guard for Hollywood couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie has looked back at the happy times they shared keeping the celebrity family safe. For five years Matthew Robbens toured the world attending film festivals and red carpet events and holidays with the couple and their brood of six children. The Louth businessman began his personal protection role with Brad and Angelina around ten years ago as part of their security team, rising to be their number one.
He had previously served as a guard for Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman.
After 12 years together and with six children, including twins, the couple announced the break-up of their high-profile marriage last week.
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Following the shock announcement that Angelina had filed for divorce, many TV news clips and photographs taken at celebrity events used as flashback footage featured Matthew. Actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are to divorce
He travelled with the A-list Hollywood stars individually and has credits on some of the movies Angelina directed.
He has a large portfolio of photographs taken of him with the pair at film festivals in Venice, Toronto, Cannes, Berlin and San Sebastian, as well as many of the film locations. The couple regularly sent him birthday presents and Christmas gifts and his son played with their children on occasions.
Matthew, 48, who owns Louth’s3 popular Play Factory on Bolingbroke Road, said: “We travelled round the world. They were always really happy. They were such great times.”
He added: “It was such a shock to hear the news. They were both wonderful parents. I liked them and their great kids. They were a lovely family. They were more worried about the safety of the children, than for themselves. They really loved one another.
“When you see love break down, it seems a waste of such a nice family. They are both good people and they always remembered me when it was my birthday and at Christmas.
They were both very personal4.”
He said: “When you are a celebrity you want to be in the public spotlight, but there are times when you have to be left alone and this is one of those times. They should be left alone. But there are people who are fascinated by them and some worship them.”
Matthew treasures a photograph taken by iconic photographer the late Ken Regan, of him advising Angelina while on a movie set in Bosnia for In The Land Of Blood And Honey.
He has credits for that film and The Tourist with Angelina and Johnny Depp.
Angelina filed for divorce on Monday for “the health of her family,” two years after the couple wed at their French estate Chateau Miraval.
The actress filed papers citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and asked for physical custody of the couple’s six children Maddox, age 15; Pax, aged 12; Zahara, aged 11; Shiloh, aged 10; and twins Vivienne and Knox, aged eight.
.jpg "Lincolnshire Businessman, Bodyguard To Brad And Angelina, 'shocked' At Split")
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