Angelina Jolie receives the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2013 Governors Awards in Hollywood, California, on Saturday. Photo: IC

A-list star Angelina Jolie kicked off the movie award season late Saturday as she accepted an honorary Oscar for her humanitarian work at the Governors Awards ceremony in Hollywood.

Veteran actress Angela Lansbury, comedian Steve Martin and Italian costume designer Pietro Tosi also received awards at the annual ceremony held by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

The 600-person guest list at the private gala dinner read like a Who's Who of top Hollywood celebrities: Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford, Amy Adams, Emma Thompson, Mark Wahlberg, Jake Gyllenhaal, Diane Keaton, Matthew McConaughey, Claudia Cardinale, Kathryn Bigelow, Jennifer Garner and George Lucas were among those invited.

Jolie was tearful as she received the award and spoke of her mother, Marcheline Bertrand.

"She did give me love and confidence, and above all, she was very clear that nothing would mean anything if I didn't have a life of use to others," she said.

The actress was accompanied by her fiance Brad Pitt - shaved and sporting a neat haircut for the occasion - and Maddox, one of the couple's six children.

"When I met survivors of wars and famine, and rape, I learned what life is like for most people in this world and how fortunate I was to have food to eat, a roof above my head, a safe place to live and the joy of having my family safe and healthy," Jolie said.

AFP