Angelina received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the fifth annual Governors Awards.
The actress said of Brad: ‘my love, your guidance and support make everything that I do possible.'
Her eldest child, 12-year-old Maddox also attended the event.
Angelina included him in her speech, saying: ‘Mad, I'm not going to cry, I promise. I won't embarrass you. You and your brothers and sisters are my happiness. And there is no greater honour in this world than being your mom.'
The mum of six then went on to thank her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2007. ‘My mother loves art. She loved film… She supported any crazy thing I did, but whenever it had meaning, she made a point of telling me,' 'That is what film is for.'
She continued: 'She wasn't really the best critic since she never had anything unkind to say, but she did give me love and confidence. And above all, she was very clear that nothing would be anything if I didn't live a life of use to others. And I didn't know what that meant for a long time.'
Angelina referred to the sadness over the loss of her mother, who she was very close to. ‘I don't know why this is my life and that's hers. But I will do as my mother asks and I will do the best I can with this life... To be of use. And to stand here today means that I did as she asked. And if she were alive, she would be very proud. So thank you for that.’
Angelina’s father, Jon Voight, was sitting in the audience but was noticably left out of Angelina’s acceptance speech.
The star then referred to her humanitarian work and how her travels across the world as a UN ambassador enlightened her to the plight and suffering of others.
‘I came into this business young, worried about my own experiences and my own pain. It was only when I began to travel and look and live beyond my home that I understood my responsibility to others.'
Angelina has completed over 40 field missions with the UN and visited war torn countries all over the world.
British actress Emma Thompson offered her praises for the actress saying: ‘it comes from a very genuine place with Angie… That is the important thing. She has been very good at keeping things in the headlines that would all to easily slip away.’
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