Angelina Jolie makes surprise speech at UN Peace Conference

She takes her duties as United Nations Special Envoy very seriously.  

So it was no surprise that Angelina Jolie arrived at Thursday's UN conference looking chic and sophisticated in a black outfit. 

The actress's appearance included a speech to the audience which included UK defence Secretary Michael Fallon and US Defence Secretary Ash Carter, the Daily Mail reports.

She looked in good spirits as she arrived, waving to onlookers and greeting UK Vice Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Gordon Messenger.

According to the UN Peacekeeping Twitter account, Angelina praised servicemen and women during her address.

“I pay tribute to the men and women who serve... for their commitment and their sacrifices,” she said. 

Angelina has been involved with the United Nations since 2001, when she was named UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador - she was promoted to the rank of Special Envoy for the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugee in 2012. 

Since then, she has completed more than 40 field missions, visiting countries including Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. 

She has also been a vocal campaigner on refugee rights, and against female genital mutilation and the use of rape as a weapon of war.

Back in June, she made a star turn at the U.S. State Department when the actress shared the podium with Secretary of State John Kerry and urged finding a solution to the refugee crisis.

In a speech, she said today's enormous refugee problem is a threat to worldwide peace and stability. 

“We face a very clear choice: to continue as we are and see displacement and insecurity grow, or to come together with other nations and find a new approach, one that does not focus solely on aid and resettlement but on solution, stability, and returns,” she said.

Away from the spotlight, the mother-of-six recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary with Brad Pitt.  

The couple have been together since 2004 but only married last year at their Château Miraval estate in France. 

Angelina and Brad marked the occasion with an intimate dinner at the Beverly Hills Hotel, according to reports.