Angelina Jolie – Humanitarian Hero

2007 December 29

angelina-jolie.jpgAngelina Jolie was ranked highest in a Reuters poll on celebrity humanitarians this week. Others to make the top five were Bono, Desmond Tutu, Bill Gates, and Bill Clinton. You can read the results here.

Angelina Jolie is a great example of someone who made a conscious move towards a heroic life. She began her life of fame as an out-of-control actress. She was clearly full of talent, but her lifestyle trumped that for attention. In an Esquire interview in July of this year she said, “I entered this business before I had focus and purpose in my life. I was very unhappy, very unhealthy…” There were tattoos, public family kissing, and a vial of blood. There was also an Academy Award.

She received a call to adventure when she was embodying the video game character, Lara Croft. Some of the filming for Tomb Raider was done in Cambodia where she witnessed first-hand the sorts of humanitarian crises happening in the world. Soon afterwards she contacted the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and began a series of visits to “hotspots” around the world. She was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador half way through 2001.

Thus began a new life. She has done extensive work ever since, seemingly never stopping. You can read the details of her work here. She has met with people in high and low places, traveled all over the world, and raised awareness of numerous important issues like no-one else can.

The prime reason she beat people like Bono or Madonna in the poll is her integrity. Peter Walker, director of the Feinstein International Famine Center at Tufts University, said people “can really sense when it’s just an endorsement and when somebody really means it. Someone like Angelina Jolie comes across as having more integrity than some celebrities and a greater sense that she doesn’t just do this for the publicity.” Jeffrey Sachs says in the Esquire interview, “…Angelina is different (from Bono and Madonna). For her, the gift is the gift of the common touch you wouldn’t expect from her.”

So from an unhappy, unhealthy actress to a world-changing humanitarian. She is now a mother and goodwill ambassador who happens to work as an actress. Angelina Jolie’s transformation shows us that no matter what we are doing now, we can make a change for the better. With integrity and purpose, one person can change the world.

24 Responses leave one →
  1. 2007 December 29
    Greg permalink

    Hey, Haters….We respecters and admirers of Ms Jolie and her knowledge of a young person’s past mistakes…..She has proven herself since adopting Maddox and 2001 with unselfish self knowledge, caring for others less fortunate and needy. She has truly showed herself of great caring Caring about all children, and as a mother raising her children, teaching them to care, love, to respect others in our troubled world.

    Common, guys, there must be some lie, some ugly name you can come up with to describe her. Maybe you can find another talented, gifted, generous and
    unselfish person to deride with your illiterate and loathsome language.

  2. 2007 December 29
    Greg permalink

    Hello, again. In the photo in this story, please note how she is preening before the camera wanting publicity. Wow.

  3. 2008 June 14
    ... permalink

    I think what Angelina Jolie does , is amazing , i am a humantarian person my self.
    Keep up the fantastic work >>

  4. 2008 July 29

    i have a 29 year old daugther in naribi kenya NOW, she was or can tell you of the personal deliminas she incounted as the war broke out and why she is where she is today, her name is crystal watley foshee and what ever her african name will be, as i mona am in st. pete fl, she was also in new orleanes helping and working at the frence school before and after katerina, so as i do believe that life has a way of creating heros out of necessary, so as a mother of a young woman and one of her chrildren with her whos three i only want to stay if ever in need of a warm fuzzy, just look us up, thanks for all that you help to get doen for all

  5. 2008 July 29

    Thanks Mona. I’d love to hear Crystal’s story from Nairobi. Heroes are waiting in the wings everywhere just waiting for an event that calls them to action.

  6. 2008 August 9
    Tammy Macdonald-Clow permalink

    How can people judge a woman like Angelina Jolie? How can people judge at all I ask? But honestly, who cares about her past…everyone has a past and whether or not she feels a need to give so much to other nations as a humanitarian I think…good on her for stepping up to the responsibility of being someone who has the fame and fortune to impact dying nations. I believe it is all our responsibility to help others and I think what she is doing is fantastic! She is leading by example which is more than we can sometimes say about ourselves!

  7. 2008 August 9

    Thanks for the comment Tammy. Stepping up to take responsibility is an admirable thing and Angelina Jolie has done it.

  8. 2008 November 20
    william permalink

    yo njolina can u send me an email please thank u

  9. 2008 November 20
    william permalink

    a anjolina can u pretty please write me an emial

  10. 2008 December 25
    yudith permalink

    bueno yo no hablo ingles pero deverdad yo almiro mucho a angelina y quiciera alguna vez ser como ella la almiro tanto que me gustaria conocerla en persona

  11. 2009 February 3

    i think that she is amazing .
    and pretty and very smart

  12. 2009 February 3

    SHES SO SMAARTT. .!!!!!
    AND NICE
    I WISH SHE WAS MY MOTHER

  13. 2009 February 16
    Brittnie Sullivan permalink

    She is such an amazing woman! Can you just imagine the lives of so many people, how they are changed by the help she provides??

    • 2009 September 14
      Luanna permalink

      oh i know, Brittnie! She is an amazing help to humanity! [:

  14. 2009 February 22

    hello ,Angelina .
    i like your movies in (CHANGELING).This movies can tough my heart.
    Please carry on my country Burma,(Myanmar).U will know about that.So many people believe u ,i always believing u .So many people & children still believe your help.
    thz Angelina .

  15. 2009 March 28
    samanatha permalink

    Angelina Jolie is a beautiful person inside and out. a small part of this world is blessed with her. those who are backlashing should necessarily stop, cause they can never compete with his heart for people.

  16. 2009 April 13

    paaa, vaka se bravo za angelina stv e mn humanitarna i prasajte ja dali ke dojde u makedonija :
    ) ve sakame :)

  17. 2009 April 13

    very very good i love you

  18. 2009 May 11
    bond, james bond permalink

    man she is sooo smokin’

  19. 2009 June 23
    angel azebaijan permalink

    a lov you angelina jolis ayam from azerbaijan twk

  20. 2009 June 23
    angel azebaijan permalink

    angelina jolis angel aylove you angilina ayam fanat anjilina

  21. 2009 June 23
    angel azebaijan permalink

    love love love angilina ay lov you

  22. 2009 August 12
    Anonymous permalink

    i am so greatful for people like u that use ur weath to dry others who are inneed tears from our eyes i hope to be like u one day may God give u more days love u

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  1. Women’s History Heroes #28 - Angelina Jolie « The Hero Workshop

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