Actress and world activist Angelina Jolie was honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences on Saturday as she was given the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in Hollywood, California, The Huffington Post reported.
The honor was bestowed upon Jolie at this year's Governors Awards ceremony. The award recognizes people "whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry." Previous past winners include Jerry Lewis and Paul Newman.
Jolie paid tribute to her late mother Marcheline Bertrand as the inspiration behind her philanthropic spirit. Bertrand, an actress, died of ovarian cancer in 2007.
"My mother loved art. She loved film. She supported any crazy thing I did but when it had meaning, she made a point of telling me, 'This is what film is for.' She wasn't really the best critic since she never had anything unkind to say, but she did give me love and confidence and, above all, she was very clear that nothing would mean anything if I didn't live a life of use to others," Jolie said.
For over a decade, Jolie has gone on field missions around the world where she met with refugees and internally displaced persons in war-ravaged countries.
"Awareness of the plight of these people. I think they should be commended for they have survived, not looked down upon," Jolie said in 2002 shortly after she began her humanitarian work. She published Notes from My Travels in 2003 in conjunction with the release of her film "Beyond Borders." Jolie has been noted for going to war-zones, such as Sudan's Darfur region, the Syrian-Iraqi border, as well as Kabul, Afghanistan.
After more than a decade of service as a UN High Commissioner Goodwill Ambassador for Refugees, Jolie was promoted to the rank of Special Envoy to High Commissioner Antonio Guterres. She continues to visit refugees all over the world.
Jolie adopted her first son, Maddox, in 2002 when he was seven months old from an orphanage in Battambang, Cambodia. Maddox was in the audience with Jolie's fiance Brad Pitt
"Mad, and your brothers and sisters, there is no greater honor than being your mom."
Jon Voight, Jolie's father, also attended the ceremony.
"I will do the best I can with this life to be of use. To stand here today means I did as she asked and if she were alive, she'd be very proud... It was only when I began to travel and look and live beyond my home that I understand my responsibility to others," Jolie added.
Jolie made mention of Louis Zamperini, the World War II veteran and former prisoner of war who is the subject of her next film.
Cast members of her film about the Balkans War, "In the Land of Blood and Honey" also spoke about Jolie's gifts as an artist and humanitarian.
