US actress Angelina Jolie has been made an honorary dame in Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday honors list released on Friday for her efforts to combat warzone rape.
Jolie, who US Secretary of State John Kerry described as “a fierce and fearless advocate,” leads a list of film idols, sports stars, authors and designers recognized for their services to the UK.
Actor Daniel Day-Lewis is to receive a knighthood, while his fellow Oscar-winning film star Dame Maggie Smith — the star of TV period drama Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter films — is made a “companion of honor.”
Jolie was given the female equivalent of a knighthood for her services to British foreign policy in her campaign to end sexual violence in conflict zones.
The 39-year-old cohosted a four-day global conference in London on the issue with British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
“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,” Jolie said.
“Working on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative 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,” she said.
Jolie becomes an honorary dame commander in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, an order of chivalry for people “who render extraordinary or important non-military service in a foreign country.”
Day-Lewis, the only man to win three Oscars for best actor — My Left Foot (1989), There Will Be Blood (2007) and Lincoln (2012) — said that he was thrilled to become a knight of the realm.
“I’m entirely amazed and utterly delighted in equal measure,” Day-Lewis said.
Smith, 79, becomes a companion of honor, an order limited to the queen and 65 other ordinary people from across the Commonwealth.
Homeland actor Damian Lewis was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).
“I was very surprised, but very happy to accept,” said the 42-year-old, who made his name in World War II series Band of Brothers.
BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet receives an OBE for her services to British broadcast journalism.
Author Hilary Mantel, the first woman to win the Booker Prize for fiction twice for her historical novel Wolf Hall and its sequel, Bring Up the Bodies, was made a dame.
“I’m delighted to receive this honor. It’s given for ‘services to literature,’ but I see it not so much as a reward for the past, more as encouragement for the future,” the 61-year-old said.
Fashion designer Zandra Rhodes also becomes a dame.
Nineteen-year-old cancer victim Stephen Sutton, who died on May 14 after raising more than £4.2 million (US$7.1 million) for a teenage cancer charity, was given an MBE for his efforts, backdated to the date of his death.
His mother Jane said her son was asked shortly before he died whether he would accept the MBE in recognition of his fundraising services and thought it was “awesome.”
Honors lists are produced twice a year, at New Year and to coincide with the queen’s official birthday in June.
She turned 88 last month.
Most recipients are not celebrities, but people who have given their time for charity work or helping their local communities.
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