Angelina looks to Africa again for a fifth child

Now, it seems, Angelina Jolie will soon be giving her tattooist another call.

Amid ongoing rumours of an irreparable rift with her partner Brad Pitt, the 32-year-old Oscar-winning star is preparing to travel with him to Ethiopia in three months to adopt another baby - their fourth non-biological child.

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According to sources close to the pair, they hope that another adoption will shore up their relationship as well as helping Zahara, the Ethiopian girl they adopted two years ago, feel more connected to the rest of the family.

Miss Jolie adopted her eldest son Maddox, from Cambodia, five years ago prior to the start of her relationship with Pitt.

Earlier this year the couple adopted Pax Thien, three, from Vietnam.

Shiloh - their only biological child - was born last year and is said to take after both Pitt, 43, and Miss Jolie in looks.

"Brad and Angie have made no secret of the fact that they are keen to extend their rainbow family," said a source close to the couple.

"But they've always been very careful to ensure that they leave enough time between kids so that that each child fully integrates into the family and feels truly settled.

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"Angie in particular feels very strongly that while Shiloh will grow up seeing the family resemblance between herself and her natural parents, and Maddox and Pax will feel a connection through their birthplaces, Zahara has no such close-knit bond.

"They hope that by finding an Ethiopian brother or sister - preferably sister - for her, it will help Zahara feel more comfortable and happy in her own skin.

"Both Brad and Angelina are incredibly excited about the latest addition to the Jolie-Pitts and if anything will bring them closer together, then this is it."

The Mail understands that the couple, who met in 2004 on the set of the movie Mr and Mrs Smith, will visit Ethiopia's Wide Horizons agency in November - the centre from where Zahara was plucked two years ago.

Assuming the adoption goes ahead, the couple will face annual reviews to check that the child is fitting into its new way of life.

Miss Jolie recently said: "I want to find an equilibrium between family and career.

"Brad and I want to continue to adopt, but keeping a big family is expensive.

"For the moment we are talking about our respective professional projects.

"We will then make sure we are agreed on where we're working and so plan our absences.

"We need to be attached to Mad, Zahara and Shiloh as much as possible.

'Recently we took Mad to Cambodia.

"For the first time he was conscious of his origins and identity.

"Discovering other places, other customs with my children - that's what I love."