She keeps covered up in chic, prim, business-like outfits for her dealings with the UN.

But this week Angelina Jolie displayed rather more flesh – and a sprawling tattoo collection – at the New York premiere of her new film, First They Killed My Father.

The 42-year-old’s backless gown showed off some of her inkings – thought to number about 20 – while accompanying her six children.

Her designs include a Tennessee Williams quote, a Buddhist prayer and geographical coordinates of where her children were born.

The meaning behind Angelina Jolie’s cryptic tattoos have been revealed

The three largest tattoos on her back were added just last year – ancient Buddhist mantras down her right shoulder blade, a temple in the centre of her back, and, below it, a grid design known as a Yantra, believed to bring good luck.

A tattoo on her left shoulder blade is a script dedicated to her son Maddox, whom she adopted in Cambodia, and was done in 2003 in a Thai hotel.

Just months before actor-turned director Miss Jolie split from her husband of 12 years, Brad Pitt, last year, the couple had a former Thai monk flown to Cambodia where she was filming.

Former Thai monk Ajarn Noo Kanpai was flown into Cambodia to ink Jolie’s back

He drew designs on both stars using the same ink to symbolically –– and ironically – ‘bind’ them as husband and wife.

Miss Jolie also has gothic lettering on her neck reading ‘Know Your Rights’, the title of a song by The Clash, one of her favourite bands.

The Oscar-winning actress’s whirlwind marriage to actor Billy Bob Thornton in 2000 after a two-month courtship prompted her to have his name and a dragon tattooed on her shoulder. By 2002, the ink had been erased by laser.

Miss Jolie said at the time: ‘I’ve moved on — that’s why it’s going.’ It was replaced with the coordinates of her children’s and Pitt’s birthplaces.

Source:https://www.dailymail.co.uk