The Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has received an honorary damehood from Britain in recognition of her work highlighting the scourge of sexual violence in war zones.
The surprise award came alongside the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in which 1,149 British residents received honours. Recipients included actors Daniel Day-Lewis and Damian Lewis, author Hilary Mantel, the Wales rugby coach Warren Gatland and Stephen Sutton, the teenager who helped to raise millions of pounds for cancer charities before his death last month.
Ms Jolie’s accolade, which was awarded by the Foreign Office, rounded off a four-day visit to London to co-chair a summit on the problem with William Hague, the Foreign Secretary.
Mr Hague has faced some criticism for devoting so much time to meetings with the American actress, who has been accompanied by her husband Brad Pitt, but the Government insists her involvement has helped to focus attention on rape as a weapon of war.
Ms Jolie, who is a special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said: “To receive an honour related to foreign policy means a great deal to me as it is what I wish to dedicate my working life to.”
Daniel Day-Lewis, the first man to win three Best Actor statuettes at the Oscars, said he was “entirely amazed and utterly delighted” to become a knight, Independent informs.
