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Angelina Jolie has been in Washington the past few days, all for events surrounding World Refugee Day. She was supposed to co-host a few events with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton – as well as participate in a joint interview with Anderson Cooper – but alas, Hillary’s elbow was Team Aniston. And then to top things off, Anderson Cooper’s plane was hit by lightening or something, so he didn’t get to Washington in time to talk to Angelina in person.

So instead, Angelina ended up co-hosting a Thursday event with none other than certified Brangalunatic Ann Curry. Ann even blogged about it on her Today page, writing “I suddenly got a call asking me to host a big deal UNHCR World Refugees Day event starting in an hour because CNN’s Anderson Cooper’s plane couldn’t land in the rain. UNHCR helps millions of refugees all over the world, so “no” was not an option.” To get another Brangalunatic merit badge, Ann even noted on her blog, “A pouring rain and sticky humidity still do not make Angelina Jolie have a bad hair day.”

I don’t mean to say that Ann made light of the event at all – as a matter of fact, CNN had a great story about it, and if you’re interested, check out what happened. Now, not only did Ann get to stand next to Angelina out in public, she got an interview with La Jolie. I watched it this morning, and I was surprised by how short it was. Angelina did say something funny at the beginning, about how both “Jesus and Mohammed were refugees.” She’s got a point. I think Siddhartha/Buddha was technically a refugee too. Unfortunately, Ann also asked Angelina if she thought she was like Audrey Hepburn:

It’s easy enough to say that actresses Angelina Jolie and Audrey Hepburn are two of the greatest beauties to ever grace the silver screen. But in a new interview with Brad Pitt’s gal-pal, she admits that she hopes to someday be able to help as many people as the Breakfast at Tiffany’s star.

Speaking on The Today Show about her role as a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador focusing on the plight of refugees, Angelina tells Ann Curry, “I’m lucky to be in this. And I’m sure Audrey Hepburn felt the same.”

Hepburn spent almost 40 years championing the cause of impoverished children across the globe. In 1992, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work and, like Angelina, was also a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador.

“She was the fortunate one to be able to meet all those kids around the world,” explains Angie. “You know, we’re just in a very fortunate situation that we get to be able to give a voice to these extraordinary people.”

And, much like Audrey, who continued on her crusade until her death in 1993, Angie expects that she’ll be doing this work for years to come.

“There’s been refugees since the dawn of time,” she says. “And I’m sure, you know, my children will be visiting and learning from refugees in the future.”

[From OK! Magazine]

I thought Angelina dodged the Audrey Hepburn questions admirably. Best to avoid the comparisons. I also liked the part where Ann asked Angelina what would have been different if she had been involved or known about refugee issues before her twenties, and Angelina answered that she wouldn’t have been so self-destructive. It was an honest answer, and one I identify with. I wish I had known in my teenaged years what I know now, about life, love, the world, all of it.