Angelina Jolie's 'flimsy' politics

Aug 30, 2007, 11:24 GMT

06/13/2007 - Angelina Jolie - A Mighty Heart - New York City Movie Premiere - Arrivals - - New York City, NY © Anthony G. Moore / PR Photos

Angelina Jolie has complained people take her politics "less seriously" because she is an actress.

The 'A Mighty Heart' star - who is a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador - is known for her humanitarian work and outspoken opinions on world matters, but believes her choice of career harms her credibility.

She told Germany's Der Spiegel magazine: "I don't necessarily think that's a natural role for an actor. Sometimes acting and politics make a very bad combination. I think that sometimes people take me less seriously in my work for the UN because I appear in movies."

Despite her tireless work, Angelina - who spent Tuesday (28.08.07) visiting 1,200 Iraqi refugees in makeshift shelters near the Iraq Syria border - doesn't think film stars should be seen as moral guardians.

She added: "I think we should be looking for great leaders in people who have dedicated their lives to those issues. And the reality is that actors spend a great deal of their time making films."

Angelina, 32, returned home from her humanitarian trip to Iraq on Wednesday (29.08.07).

During the visit, the actress witnessed dozens of Iraqis crossing the border into Syria to escape the fighting in their war-torn homeland.

She also met US troops and other foreign forces deployed in the region.

Angelina said of her visit: "I have come to Syria and Iraq to help draw attention to the humanitarian crisis and to urge governments to increase their support for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and its partners."

(C) BANG Media International