She's Got a Fancy New Title

If there was actually a prize for winning at life, then Angelina Jolie would be holding it. From her smash blockbuster appearance as the leading lady in Maleficent to co-hosting a summit called End Sexual Violence in Conflict, it's starting to feel like Jolie can truly do no wrong. After all, Maleficent was her first time appearing as the lead in a live action film since 2010 and it proved that Jolie is just as big of a box office draw as she has always been. Now, not only is she a magnetic actress and an active humanitarian, she's also essentially royalty. Queen Elizabeth II named Angelina Jolie an Honorary Dame, which is about as close as the common man can get to joining the royal family without actually, you know, joining the royal family.

Being named a dame is the female equivalent of being knighted in the United Kingdom. It's one of Britain's highest honors, one that Jolie earned when she co-founded the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative and dedicated herself to raising awareness around the world about violence against women. Jolie is only an honorary dame, however, because she's not a British citizen, which, unfortunately, means that we can't actually refer to her as Dame Angelina Jolie. Well, we could, but there's probably a royal edict against it or something.

The most inspirational part of all of this isn't the fact that Jolie's humanitarian efforts earned her recognition by the Queen of England herself, but that anyone who knows even the first time about Angelina Jolie knows that essentially Jolie was awarded this title for being herself. Her humanitarian efforts stretch as far back as 2001 when she was named an UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and in the years that followed she became increasingly politically involved to promote humanitarian causes. She's a tirelessly hard worker and a genuine inspiration to anyone who has ever dared dream of making the world a better place.

"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. "Working on PVSI 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."

Becoming an honorary dame of the Order of St Michael and St George is far from the first award or recognition that Jolie has received for her great work and it certainly won't be the last, but it certainly does solidify her as the best of American royalty. Not that anyone who has ever seen Mr. & Mrs. Smith was ever in doubt of that.