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Angelina Jolie to receive honorary Oscar for exemplary humanitarian work

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Angelina Jolie is to receive an honorary Oscar, it was announced on Thursday.

The Oscar-winning actress will be presented with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which recognises the exemplary humanitarian work of a member of the film industry.

Angelina, who was nominated for an Oscar for her leading performance in Changeling and won for her supporting role in Girl, Interrupted, serves as a special envoy for the UN's refugee agency.

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The actress/filmmaker has also lobbied Congress to support programmes protecting women and children.

At 38, she is by far the youngest person and only the seventh woman to receive the Hollywood prize, which will be given to her in an awards ceremony in November.

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Actor Steve Martin, Murder, She Wrote star Angela Lansbury and Italian costume designer Piero Tosi are also to be recognised for their career achievements with annual lifetime-achievement trophies.

Steve, who has written and starred in dozens of films, has hosted the Oscars ceremony three times and was nominated for his 1977 short film, The Absent-Minded Waiter, took to Twitter to share his pride at winning the award. "I'm proud to win an honorary Oscar this year. A salute to comedy and all the great people I've worked with", he wrote to more than 2 million fans.

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Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs said the Governors Awards "pay tribute to individuals who've made indelible contributions in their respective fields. "She added, "We couldn't be more excited for this year's honorees and look forward to bringing their peers and colleagues together to celebrate their extraordinary achievements."

© Photo: Getty Images

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Board of Governors voted on the winners of its fifth year of honorary Oscars earlier this week.

The awards will be presented at an untelevised ceremony on 16 November at Hollywood & Highland Center’s Ray Dolby Ballroom.