Look past the flashbulbs of Hollywood and you will find Angelina Jolie sitting on the dirt floor of a crowded refugee camp, sharing the exact same rudimentary conditions as the field staff around her. For over two decades, her life has been defined by this quiet, boots-on-the-ground devotion to global displacement and wildlife conservation. By choosing to walk directly into the world’s most painful crisis zones, she offers us an inspiring masterclass in true empathy.
Angelina Jolie is an American actress and filmmaker who has been named Hollywood’s highest-paid actress multiple times. Born Angelina Jolie Voight (June 4, 1975), her exceptional film journey spans over two decades, showcasing her versatility and range. Throughout her career, Jolie has received numerous awards and nominations, cementing her status as a Hollywood icon.
Angelina Jolie is equally, if not more, famous as a deeply compassionate humanitarian and a philanthropist with a big heart. In recognition of her tireless advocacy for refugees, women’s rights, and children’s welfare, she was named by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) as their Goodwill Ambassador in 2001. Over the next decade, she went on more than 40 field missions, meeting with refugees and internally displaced persons in over 30 countries.
In 2012, after more than a decade of service as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, Angelina Jolie was promoted to the rank of Special Envoy. She went on over a dozen field missions to crisis zones around the world to meet with refugees and undertake advocacy and fund-raising on their behalf. After 20 years of dedicated service to the organisation, she stepped down from her formal role as Special Envoy in late 2022 to transition into independent human rights advocacy, continuing to collaborate directly with local leaders and grassroots groups globally.
Angelina Jolie covered all costs related to her missions and shared the same rudimentary working and living conditions as UNHCR field staff on all of her visits. Her donation of $1 million in response to an international UNHCR emergency appeal in 2001 is the largest donation UNHCR had ever received from a private individual.
The Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, which she co-founded, supports various humanitarian projects worldwide. Her efforts have also focused closely on preventing sexual violence in conflict zones and promoting equal access to education for girls. Her deep commitment to social service has earned her numerous accolades around the globe.
The Shiloh Jolie-Pitt Foundation has funded the Shiloh Wildlife Sanctuary in collaboration with the Na’an ku sê Foundation of Namibia and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. The sanctuary is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating injured or orphaned wildlife, particularly rhinos and elephants affected by poaching or human-wildlife conflict. It is fully equipped with holding pens, trucks, crates and specialised veterinary equipment, with a full-time veterinarian on staff.
The Na’an ku sê Foundation works directly alongside local communities to address human-wildlife conflict and promote sustainable coexistence.
Angelina Jolie dedicated over 20 years of service to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. She served as a Goodwill Ambassador from 2001–2012 and then as Special Envoy from 2012–2022.
“We cannot close ourselves off to information and ignore the fact that millions of people are out there suffering. I honestly want to help. I don’t believe I feel differently from other people. I think we all want justice and equality, a chance for a life with meaning. All of us would like to believe that if we were in a bad situation someone would help us.“
– Angelina Jolie on her motives for joining UNHCR in 2001