Angelina Jolie

Biography:

Angelina Jolie, born Angelina Jolie Voight on June 4, 1975, in Los Angeles, California, is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian. Throughout her career, she has garnered numerous awards, including an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards, and has been recognized as one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses on multiple occasions.

Jolie’s journey in the entertainment industry began at a young age when she appeared alongside her father in the film “Lookin’ to Get Out” (1982). However, it was in the 1990s that her film career gained momentum with roles in “Cyborg 2” (1993) and “Hackers” (1995). She further solidified her reputation with acclaimed performances in television films like “George Wallace” (1997) and “Gia” (1998), the latter earning her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her portrayal of Lara Croft in “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” (2001) established her as a leading actress in Hollywood. Over the years, she has showcased her versatility in various genres, including action films like “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005) and “Wanted” (2008), as well as dramas like “A Mighty Heart” (2007) and “Changeling” (2008).

Apart from her acting career, Jolie is renowned for her humanitarian work. She has been honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and holds the title of Honorary Dame Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. Her advocacy focuses on issues such as conservation, education, and women’s rights, with a particular emphasis on refugees. Jolie served as a Special Envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees until 2022, undertaking numerous field missions to refugee camps and conflict zones worldwide.

Jolie’s commitment to humanitarian causes extends beyond advocacy. She has founded initiatives such as the Jolie Legal Fellowship, which supports human rights development through legal advocacy. Additionally, she has been actively involved in campaigns against sexual violence in conflict zones, collaborating with governments and international organizations to raise awareness and promote cooperation.

In her personal life, Jolie’s relationships and family have been subjects of public interest. She has been married three times and has six children, three of whom are adopted internationally. Despite facing challenges and controversies, Jolie continues to use her platform to make a positive impact on the world, whether through her artistic endeavors or her philanthropic efforts.

Following Angelina Jolie’s enrollment in the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in June 2007, she organized a conference on global legal issues and fairness at CFR headquarters and financially supported various CFR special publications, including “Intervention to Stop Genocide and Mass Atrocities.” In January 2011, she founded the Jolie Legal Fellowship, which sponsors a network of lawyers and advocates to promote the advancement of human rights within their nations. These legal professionals, known as Jolie Legal Fellows, have played a role in aiding child protection initiatives in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and advancing an inclusive democratic process in Libya following the 2011 revolution.

Jolie has spearheaded a campaign against sexual violence in military conflict zones, supported by the UK government, which prioritized the issue during its 2013 G8 presidency. In May 2012, she initiated the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) alongside Foreign Secretary William Hague,inspired by her Bosnian war film “In the Land of Blood and Honey” (2011). PSVI was created to complement broader UK government efforts by increasing awareness and fostering international collaboration. Jolie addressed the issue at the G8 foreign ministers meeting, leading to a landmark declaration by attending nations, and also spoke before the UN Security Council, prompting the adoption of its most comprehensive resolution on the matter to date.In June 2014, she co-hosted the four-day Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, the largest-ever gathering on the topic, resulting in a protocol endorsed by 151 nations.

Through her involvement with the PSVI, Jolie collaborated with foreign policy experts Chloe Dalton and Arminka Helic, who served as special advisers to Hague. This partnership led to the establishment of Jolie Pitt Dalton Helic in 2015, focusing on women’s rights and global justice, among other causes.In May 2016, Jolie was appointed a visiting professor at the London School of Economics to contribute to a postgraduate program at the Centre on Women, Peace, and Security, which she co-founded with Hague the previous year.In February 2022, Jolie, accompanied by her daughter Zahara, visited Washington, D.C. for the introduction of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act in the Senate, a bill aimed at addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.[182] She actively collaborated with the bill’s proponents and supporters. Additionally, she advocates for Kayden’s Law, focusing on trauma-informed legal processes and judicial standards to minimize harm to children, and supports the passage of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2022, aimed at enhancing crime victims’ rights, forensic science, and addressing racial disparities in wrongful convictions within the US criminal justice system.

In September 2020, Jolie made a contribution to two young boys operating a lemonade stand in London to raise funds for Yemen, which was facing a humanitarian crisis due to conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels. In March 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Jolie visited Ukrainian children at the Vatican Children’s Hospital Bambino Gesù, expressing her hope for an end to the conflict and highlighting the impact on children’s lives. Subsequently, in May 2022, she traveled to Lviv, Ukraine, to meet with additional displaced and hospitalized children.