Superstar Angelina Jolie is a fiercely protective mom. "If anybody comes into my home and tries to hurt my kids, I have no problem shooting them," she says. Spoken like a true bad-*ss mother (frankly, I'd defy any parent to deny they'd do the same to protect their kids).

Jolie, 33, who's expecting fraternal twin girls with hottie Brad Pitt, 44, says they have guns in their home to deal with harmful intruders. This makes sense, given their high profile and the millions of people who'd kill to get close to the Jolie-Pitts and their four adorable little kids. Indeed, rumors swirled months ago of a botched kidnapping attempt on their daughter, Shiloh, 2.

"Brad and I are not against having a gun in the house, and we do have one," Jolie tells London's Daily Mail. "And yes, I'd be able to use it if I had to. I could handle myself. I think there are certain combat skills that would come out....self-defense is important. Brad and I want our kids to learn it. They're going to get into a fight some day, so they might as well learn how to take care of themselves."

Jolie, who trained in martial arts and firearms to play action heroine Lara Croft in two box-office smashes of the same name, explains: "There's a side to me that people know is humanitarian, and there's a side to me that's a mommy. But there's also the side that likes to get down and dirty and run and jump around and fire guns. I don't want to lose touch with that."

Jolie plays an assassin in her upcoming action flick, Wanted. This is not the first time Jolie has played a hit (wo)man: she played one in the 2004 blockbuster, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, where she met and fell in love with Pitt (who played her assassin-husband). Wanted comes out in theaters June 27.