Angelina Jolie was never maternal when she was younger, says her father Jon Voight.

Her father Jon Voight says he is surprised she has become the mother of six children as she never displayed mothering instincts as a child.

He told Us Weekly magazine: "You know she wasn't the kind that played with dolls and then all of the sudden she has all of these children.

"She loves kids though. She's very playful. It's wonderful."

Angelina gave birth to twins Knox and Vivienne last month, and Jon says she and partner Brad Pitt are “over the moon” with the new arrivals.

He added: "The twins are healthy and they're doing well and I'm so happy.

"And of course the parents are really happy and over the moon. It's a wonderful time."

As well as Knox and Vivienne, Brad and Angelina have biological daughter Shiloh, two, and adopted trio Maddox, six, four-year-old Pax and three-year-old Zahara.

It was claimed earlier this week that the twins were conceived using in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

A source close to the couple said: "They conceived through in vitro fertilisation. They both desperately wanted more babies soon."

Angelina, 33, only had a one per cent chance of conceiving fraternal twins naturally, but a 25 per cent chance by recipients of the treatment.

The 'Wanted' actress was also keen to have the procedure - which can cost up to $12,000 a time - because she didn't want to have any problems conceiving.

The source added: "She wouldn't have to deal with the stress of trying to get pregnant. They were impatient."

In vitro fertilisation is a procedure where the egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside the woman's womb. The fertilised egg, called a zygote, is then transferred to the patient's uterus.

(US Weekly, archive)