Arise Dame Angelina: After days of hobnobbing at rape summit, starstruck William Hague hands Tinseltown's queen Jolie a gong

  • Foreign Secretary William Hague has made Hollywood actress a dame
  • Miss Jolie, 39, given surprise accolade as part of Queen's birthday honours
  • She and Hague have been working together at a summit on rape in London
  • Hugely unusual for an American citizen to receive an honour from Britain
  • Star of Tomb Raider said the gong meant a 'great deal' last night

By Sam Greenhill and Jason Groves and Tamara Cohen

Published: 16:30 EST, 13 June 2014 | Updated: 10:50 EST, 14 June 2014


Angelina Jolie has been made a dame by William Hague.

The starstruck Foreign Secretary, who has spent most of the week at the Hollywood actress’s side, bestowed the surprise accolade on her as part of the Queen’s birthday honours.

The pair have been working closely together at a summit on rape in London – despite the escalating political and military crises in Iraq, Syria and Ukraine.

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Star power: William Hague, in Chelsea boots, with wife Ffion and Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt yesterday

Star power: William Hague, in Chelsea boots, with wife Ffion and Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt yesterday

Starstruck: The Foreign Secretary, centre, has given the Hollywood star, right, a surprise gong as part of the Queen's birthday honours

Starstruck: The Foreign Secretary, centre, has given the Hollywood star, right, a surprise gong as part of the Queen's birthday honours

Speech: The actress, a UN Special Envoy, talks to those attending the summit. The honour recognises her 'extraordinary' work to stamp out rape as a weapon in war zones

Speech: The actress, a UN Special Envoy, talks to those attending the summit. The honour recognises her 'extraordinary' work to stamp out rape as a weapon in war zones

 

Miss Jolie, the 39-year-old star of Tomb Raider, said: ‘It means a great deal to me.’

But eyebrows were raised at the headline-grabbing damehood, which seals two years of growing friendship between the A-list actress and Mr Hague.

As an American citizen, it is highly unusual that Miss Jolie has received an honour from Britain.

Foreigners are occasionally awarded them – there was an honorary knighthood for Bob Geldof, who is Irish, after Live Aid.

 

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Labour MP Paul Flynn said that giving a top award to a celebrity with friends in high places rather than an unsung British hero undermined the credibility of the honours system.

‘The honours system is becoming increasingly discredited and this is another step in that direction,’ he said.

‘Angelina Jolie is doing creditable work but it is ridiculous to honour people who are already over-endowed with privileges and wealth.’

Critics also said damehoods are usually bestowed later in life, after a recipient has earned a lower honour such as an OBE or a CBE. 

Arrival: Miss Jolie and partner Brad Pitt arrive at the summit. The actress said the honour meant 'a great deal'

Arrival: Miss Jolie and partner Brad Pitt arrive at the summit. The actress said the honour meant 'a great deal'

Power couple: Miss Jolie and Brad Pitt. Eyebrows were raised at the headline-grabbing damehood last night - which seals two years of growing friendship between the A-list actress and Mr Hague

Power couple: Miss Jolie and Brad Pitt. Eyebrows were raised at the headline-grabbing damehood last night - which seals two years of growing friendship between the A-list actress and Mr Hague

The honour to Miss Jolie, a UN Special Envoy, recognises her ‘extraordinary’ work to stamp out rape as a weapon in war zones, culminating in a landmark international summit in London to tackle the menace.

Mr Hague said she thoroughly deserved the award because she had ‘made a real difference and achieved lasting results’, referring to the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative the pair launched in 2012.

Miss Jolie 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.’

She becomes an honorary Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George.

It is awarded to those who ‘render extraordinary or important non-military service in a foreign country’.

It can also be conferred for important or loyal service in relation to foreign and Commonwealth affairs.

Mr Hague and Miss Jolie have made a number of visits to war zones around the world together.

New friends: Hague's wife Ffion - who usually shuns publicity - and Miss Jolie at the Global Summit To End Sexual Violence in London. It is highly unusual for an American citizen to receive an honour from Britain

New friends: Hague's wife Ffion - who usually shuns publicity - and Miss Jolie at the Global Summit To End Sexual Violence in London. It is highly unusual for an American citizen to receive an honour from Britain

Coverage: How the Mail covered the summit - which took place despite escalating crises in Iraq and Syria

Coverage: How the Mail covered the summit - which took place despite escalating crises in Iraq and Syria

The Foreign Secretary has seemed bewitched by the actress all week, with he and David Cameron looking like awestruck schoolboys when they welcomed her to Britain on Tuesday.

Mr Hague gushed that she was ‘a pleasure to work with’, and said her ‘power to speak to the whole world’ and his ‘levers of decision-making and action’ were a formidable combination.

Whitehall officials confirmed Miss Jolie’s damehood was an honour ‘from the Foreign Office ... for services to UK foreign policy and the campaign to end war zone sexual violence’.

The Foreign Office refused to confirm it was Mr Hague who had nominated Miss Jolie.

Campaign: US Secretary of State John Kerry, William Hague and actress Angelina Jolie speak to crowds during the fourth day of the London conference. Hague said he had discussed the Iraq conflict with Mr Kerry

Campaign: US Secretary of State John Kerry, William Hague and actress Angelina Jolie speak to crowds during the fourth day of the London conference. Hague said he had discussed the Iraq conflict with Mr Kerry

Working together: Mr Hague was all smiles as he appeared at the closing session of the summit with Miss Jolie, who wore a grey kimono-style dress

Working together: Mr Hague was all smiles as he appeared at the closing session of the summit with Miss Jolie, who wore a grey kimono-style dress

Yesterday Mr Hague was all smiles as he appeared at the closing session of the summit with Miss Jolie, who wore a grey kimono-style dress.

Her partner Brad Pitt and Mr Hague’s wife Ffion, who usually shuns publicity, were also present.

Later he said he and US Secretary of State John Kerry, who also attended the summit, had ‘obviously’ discussed the deepening conflict in Iraq.

Downing Street defended Mr Hague’s decision to devote a week to accompanying Miss Jolie.

Mr Cameron believed it was the ‘right thing to do’ to carry on with the ‘very important initiative’, said a spokesman, who insisted Mr Hague had not taken his eye off the ball on Iraq.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ANGELINA...

In 1995, Angelina married Hackers co-star Jonny Lee Miller.

She wore black leather pants and a white top with Jonny's name reportedly scribbled in her own blood to the ceremony.

During the split from Miller, she had her first openly gay relationship. She began dating her 'Foxfire' co-star Jenny Shimizu, in 1998.

The following year, Jolie married Academy Award-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton.

In 2001, Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton reportedly signed their wills in blood.

Throughout their relationship, they wore vials of each other's blood on a matching necklace.

That same year, Angelina caused a stir when she and her producer brother James Haven shared a passionate kiss at the Oscars after she won the award for Girl, Interrupted.

She has fourteen known tattoos, including one with the Latin proverb 'quod me nutrit me destruit' - which means 'what nourishes me destroys me'.

She also has the Tennessee Williams quote: 'A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages', as well as a twelve-inch-by-eight-inch tiger.

She also has seven sets of geographical coordinates indicating the birthplaces of her children and her partner Brad Pitt.

She has covered or removed several of her tattoos, including the name of her second husband Billy Bob, and the Chinese characters for death and courage.

... AND HER PEARLS OF WISDOM

On growing up: 'When other little girls wanted to be ballet dancers, I wanted to be a vampire.'

On other people's opinions of her: 'If I make a fool of myself, who cares? I'm not frightened by anyone's perception of me.'

On depression: 'Therapy? I don't need that. The roles that I choose are my therapy.'

On death: 'Because I am a bad girl, people automatically think that I am a bad girl. Or that I carry a dark secret with me or I'm obsessed with death. The truth is that I am probably the least morbid person one can meet. If I think more about death than some other people, it is probably because I love life more than they do.'

On settling down: 'I never felt settled or calm. You can't really commit to life when you feel that.'

On her sexuality: 'Honestly, I like everything, boyish girls, girlish boys, the heavy and the skinny.'

On adoption: 'I'm drawn to kids that are already born. I think some people are meant to do certain things and I believe I'm meant to find my children in the world somewhere and not necessarily have them genetically.'

On the blood virals necklaces: 'It was never a vial anyway. It was like a flower press. It was like from a slight cut on your finger and you press your fingerprint in. It was kind of a sweet gesture.'

On her sanity: 'There's certainly a side of me that isn't completely... sane. Or completely 'even' all the time. We all have our dark sides.'


 

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I really find it hard to understand why Maggie Smith gets yet another honour as all she's doing is her job!!!!

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I feel sick!

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I don't agree with it purely based on the fact that she couldn't care less about the male victims. Of which 40% in conflict zones are. I think that constitutes at least enough to get a mention and maybe the odd dollar to help them. Especially since their families abandon them as worthless afterwards.

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Angelina Jolie is the most fascinating individual that I greatly admire. Her honesty and compassion is phenomenal.Just reading her comments about herself is astounding. I can see the attraction she has on Brad and to everyone she meets and had the pleasure of conversing with. I started following her career since she was a teen. Her marriage to Jon Miller then Billy Bob [never liked him] and now Brad. Brad and her are a perfect match because of their selfless love for every human being. They truly deserve each other. I pray and wish them well...

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In reply to matt_r from London. .sir bob geldof deserved his gong...

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Should have handed her a cheeseburger.

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Celebrity or not, English or not. I like to see women honoured for their altruistic philanthropic work. You may not like she is famous and beautiful but who cares, this woman is using her hard earned time to help or publicise the plight of others. How can that possibly be a negative ?

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Whatever haters, I'll take DAME Angelina over Kim K ANY DAY.

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yeah Angelina the DECEIVER for sure.

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Come on people, let's just be happy to see someone try and make a difference in this world. She is not just a talented, beautiful actress, but an intelligent lady with a genuine heart for people. More celebrities should follow in her footsteps.

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Angelina Jolie is there not a s a Hollywood Actress but as the Special Envoy of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and assisted in the arrangements for the four day conference which is being attended by politicians and officials from countries around the world. Still, it's far easier to talk about, mock and attack those trying to put an end to the vile abuse, demeaning and humiliation of women as a method of waging war than to worry your tiny little minds over a subject you would rather was swept under the carpet and ignored.

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