The United Nations has utilized celebrities as goodwill ambassadors, especially for programs like UNICEF, for decades. Although the organization is controversial to some, as many don't feel it has been effective in its mission to create world peace, many still see the benefits of the international congress.
Stars like Emma Watson, Sarah Jessica Parker, and especially Angelina Jolie have all been very active in their work for the United Nations, traveling and doing their best to spread goodwill and help the U.N. in their mission.
10 Emma Watson
The Harry Potter star became a U.N. goodwill ambassador in 2014. She serves as an advocate for gender equality and women's rights. She is a part of the U.N.'s HeForShe campaign and has spoken to the U.N. General Assembly about gender equity multiple times. She is also a staunch environmentalist and advocates for action to curb climate change.
9 Nicole Kidman
Another advocate for gender equality and women's rights is Nicole Kidman. The Australian actress began working with the U.N. in 2006, and she focuses on "raising awareness on the infringement of women’s human rights around the world," according to the U.N. website. Her primary focus is to raise awareness about violence against women. She is the spokesperson of their SAY NO - United To End Violence Against Women campaign.
8 David Beckham
UNICEF is the acronym for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund and is one of the oldest agencies created by the U.N. celebrity goodwill ambassadors have been an extensive part of the agency's publicity program, and one of their many famous ambassadors is soccer champ, David Beckham. Beckham has been with the U.N. since 2005, and he joined the program because he wants "a world where children grow up safe – safe from violence, war, poverty, hunger, and preventable disease."
7 Sarah Jessica Parker
Parker's work for the U.N. is rather modest, but she is still one of their many UNICEF goodwill ambassadors. She helped kick off the 56th annual Trick or Treat for UNICEF event in 2006. Trick or Treat for UNICEF is a Halloween tradition started by the program that encourages adults and children to collect donations for UNICEF while trick or treating.
6 Audrey Hepburn
Hepburn is an icon and an institutional piece of Hollywood history. She became a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF in 1988 and she traveled around the world advocating for the rights of children. The UN hosted a tribute to the actress in 2021 to honor both her work and UNICEF's 75th anniversary. Hepburn did as much work as she could until she died of cancer in 1993.
5 Millie Bobby Brown
The Stranger Things star turned 18 in 2022 and the minute she arrived at adulthood she put herself and her celebrity status to work. She became one of their UNICEF ambassadors in 2018 and made history as their youngest ambassador. She is also one of the youngest people to ever deliver an address to the U.N. assembly.
4 Serena Williams
The tennis star has been a UNICEF ambassador since 2011, although she first teamed up with the UN in 2006. Williams advocates for educational resources for children, especially in areas like Africa. She is a part of their Schools For Africa program, their #EveryChildAlive campaign, and she wrote an op-ed for CNN where she went into detail about her struggles with health and parenting which also explained why she is so involved with their advocacy. She has also traveled to Ghana as a part of their health and welfare advocacy campaigns.
3 Liam Neeson
Neeson might play gritty tough guys on screen, but in real life, he has a big heart and wants to help the world. He has worked with UNICEF for over 20 years and previously he was the National Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland. He has traveled to several countries in Africa and elsewhere on behalf of the UN. "I am deeply honored to become a Goodwill Ambassador, and am committed to working with UNICEF to help children overcome poverty, violence, disease and discrimination across the world."
2 Katy Perry
As an international pop sensation, Perry brings a large amount of attention to the U.N.'s work, especially UNICEF. She became an ambassador in 2013, and she had this to say about the program, "UNICEF works to ensure that every child, urban or rural, rich or poor, has a chance to thrive, to grow, and to contribute to their families and communities – as well as to have the opportunity to shape the world that we live in."
1 Angelina Jolie
Of all the stars to do work for the UN, few are as notorious as Angelina Jolie. Jolie has not just been a goodwill ambassador for many UN programs and campaigns ever since 2001. She is also a special envoy for the UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council) and traveled to many countries advocating for refugees ever since 2011. She has traveled to visit refugees in Yemen and spoken on behalf of displaced Yemen citizens ever since civil war broke out in the nation in 2011. She has also visited Thailand, Tunisia, Sudan, and Pakistan. Several pictures of Jolie can be found online of her performing her international duties. Jolie took a long break from acting to focus on her humanitarian work, while also recovering from some major health issues.
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