Actress to become UN peace envoy

Actress Charlize Theron has been made a messenger of peace by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
The South African-born actress, who won an Oscar for her role in the 2003 film Monster, will have a special focus on ending violence against women.
Theron, who is now a US citizen, is the founder of a project aimed at promoting HIV/Aids education for children and their families in South Africa.
The 33-year-old will be formally inducted in New York on Monday.
Mr Ban said of the actress: "You have used your voice, compassion and special relationship with the public to create a better world."
Theron, 33, won an Oscar for her portrayal of real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos, who came from a background of violence and abuse, and was executed in Florida in 2002.
In the 2005 film North Country, she played a woman who tackles sexual harassment.
Theron has also appeared in The Cider House Rules, and thrillers such as The Italian Job and the special-effects filled AEon Flux.
She becomes the UN's 10th peace envoy, joining the likes of US actors George Clooney and Michael Douglas, British naturalist Jane Goodall, and Brazilian author Paulo Coelho.

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10 replies since 16th November 2008 • Last reply 16th November 2008

Reply #1:

It's sad that they have to get actors and actresses involved with this sort of thing, but it means they can do something good and at least it will make people listen.

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Reply #2:

I don't see why it's a bad thing that they get actors involved. They're people too - people with a lot of money and influence. If they can help change things, then that's excellent

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Reply #3:

I think the un uses their celebrity to help the public. For some reason this world has gone celeb crazy, so when a celeb supports something, the public seem to follow. It does seem to help raise aweness.

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Reply #4:

It definately does. When it comes to serious issues like violence against women (not that violence against men isn't just as serious, but that's besides the point I'm making), anyone who can actually make a change is welcome in my books!

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Reply #5:

it's not a bad thing that at least the issues are brought to people's attention, it's just that they have to get someone famous with a bit of glamour to bring it to people's attention, I wish people thought about giving and issues without it being shoved down their throats first.

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Reply #6:

Okay yeah I know what you mean, one of those lovely hypothetical things that's never gonna happen =(

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Reply #7:

sigh, I know

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Reply #8:

we've been getting it shoved down our throats at our school since kindygarten. i think its good that were raising awareness and doing community service, but the weekly assembly about it is a NIGHTMARE.

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Reply #9:

lol, I hated assembly

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Reply #10:

our assemblys (what's the plural of that bloody hard is it ys or ies aaah!) all had subliminal messages slipped in, you know you were meant to learn without it being explained word for word i.e. which is better a 50p or a pound, 50ps are bigger but pounds have more value I remember that from primary school so I was like 8???. I think I was one of the few who actually got it Happy

I put a load of change we have in this change can thiingy at home in the Children in Need bucket at work Happy

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