Photo: BEImages/Jim Smeal.
Angelina Jolie turned the 2013 Governors Awards into a family affair. With Brad Pitt and their son Maddox in tow, Jolie was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award — by George Lucas, no less.
Though her sparkly black gown was, indeed, stunning, it's her acceptance speech that deserves all the attention. As the 86th recipient of the award, the actress took the opportunity to honor her mother, a woman who, as Jolie explained, never had the opportunity to express herself through acting the way she had hoped. She, instead, would live that life through her children. "Nothing would mean anything if I didn't live a life of use to others," the actress said, recounting her mother's advice.
Humbled, Jolie continued to thank those who have helped her achieve her dreams and laid the trajectory of her career, explaining the importance of knowing how to use her fame to do good. "Across the world, there's a woman just like me with the same abilities and the same desires, same work ethic and love for her family, who would most likely make better films and better speeches. Only she sits in a refugee camp, and she has no voice. She worries about what her children will eat, how to keep them safe, and if they'll ever be allowed to return home. I don't know why this is my life, and that's hers. I don't understand that, but I will do as my mother asks." Hopefully, you've got a box of tissues by your side — you're gonna need it.