It's 'Dame' Angelina Jolie Now

Angelina Jolie picked up a major award yesterday, but one that has nothing to do with her acting. Queen Elizabeth named her an honorary dame for her humanitarian work, one of Britain's highest honors, reports the Guardian. The 39-year-old UN envoy was in London this week to chair a world summit on preventing sexual violence and rape during war, an event at which John Kerry called her a "fierce and fearless advocate," reports the Telegraph. For the record, she was named an honorary Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George for extraordinary service to British foreign policy, notes People. Actor Daniel Day-Lewis got the male equivalent, an honorary knighthood, for his contribution to the arts.

"To receive an honor related to foreign policy means a great deal to me, as it is what I wish to dedicate my working life to," said Jolie in a statement in which she referred to the group she co-founded, the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative. "Working on PSVI and with survivors of rape is an honor in itself. I know that succeeding in our goals will take a lifetime, and I am dedicated to it for all of mine." (More Angelina Jolie stories.)