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How It All Fell Apart

Originally posted Thursday August 04, 2005 06:00 AM EDT

Vanity Fair reportedly moved up Aniston's cover by a month. Photo by: Mario Testino exclusively for Vanity Fair

For Aniston, navigating the choppy waters of life without Brad has been an admittedly challenging process. After those photos were published, "the world was shocked, and I was shocked," Aniston tells journalist Leslie Bennetts, noting that she would be "a robot" if she didn't experience moments of anger, hurt and embarrassment.

She calls her seven-year relationship with Pitt "very dear, very complicated, very special." During the interview, Bennetts portrays her as reflective, emotional, resolute and even jokey. (Aniston pokes fun at Pitt's recently dyed platinum-blond locks.)

The 36-year-old actress, who flaunts her better-than-ever body in a sexy photo shoot by famed photographer Mario Testino, speaks openly about the pain of the past few months but is quick to note her resilience. "Am I lonely? Yes. Do I have my days when I've thrown a little pity party for myself? Absolutely," she says. "But I'm also doing really well."

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