Angelina Jolie Ranks as Most Respected Humanitarian Celebrity
Actress Angelina Jolie has won out for the title of most respected celebrity "do-gooder" this year.
Angelina Jolie has won. Not an Oscar, but to some, a much better reward. The beautiful actress-turned-humanitarian was ranked as the topmost respected humanitarian celebrity this year, as 2007 comes to a close. The poll was conducted by Reuters' humanitarian website, Reuters Alertnet (www.Alertnet.org), which praised Jolie's efforts as a U.N. ambassador and person of the people.
Jolie is an ambassador for UNHCR, a refugee agency through the U.N. She has received high praise for her work, including from UNHCR spokesman Peter Kessler, who described Jolie as someone who "... goes out to see for herself, to get up close and very personal. She doesn't travel with film crews, and I think that is real testimony to her dedication to the cause." Reuters reports that Jolie has visited over 20 top spots of need, including Iraq.
Reuters reports that singer Madonna was voted the least respected celebrity humanitarian. News of her adoption of a child from Malawi was met with mixed reactions, as some believed the adoption to be part of her history of short-lived fads. Paris Hilton ranked right behind Madonna for least respected humanitarian.
The poll, held December 7-19, put Jolie ahead of longtime humanitarian advocate Bono. Bono has raised awareness of AIDS and African suffering over the years. According to Reuters, Bono came in as the second most respected celebrity humanitarian and was also ranked in the "top five celebrity do-gooders people love to hate." Six hundred six people were involved in the poll.
