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Entertainment December 18, 2016
Michael Sheen is the latest celebrity on a quest to change the world for the better.
“I have become more involved with community issues back at home over the last few years and because of the political situation it’s something I would like to focus on more,” the “Masters of Sex” actor told ET.
According to him, Donald Trump’s upcoming presidency greatly affected his decision to return home to Wales. “What I think must be resisted is the re-emerging spectre of fascism in the West,” he said. “Our democracy must be defended and each of us needs to decide how we can contribute to that effort.”
Because of this, the question pervading his mind the most is: “How can I be most effective?”
And while Sheen continues to seek to further involve himself with political and global issues, here are five actresses who also double as activists.
Shailene Woodley made headlines this year for using her celebrity platform to bring attention to the Standing Rock protests against the North Dakota Access Pipeline project. She spent a great deal of time on site and she also used her social media accounts to spread the word about the protests. She also penned a letter on TIME to help voice the concerns of Native American communities about their culture, land and rights.
In October, she was honored with the Female Environmental Media Association Futures Award. “Our lives afford us the opportunity to come together and get involved in a peaceful and unifying manner,” Woodley said in a statement. “We must show up to see change come to fruition.”
READ MORE: #NoDAPL: Meet the Women Fighting to Protect Standing Rock Indian Reservation (VIDEO)
Although Emma Watson is best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” franchise, she is also a major feminist activist. She works as a UN Goodwill Ambassador and created the HeForShe campaign, which holds men and women responsible for gender equality. She is also heavily involved in promoting girls’ education and was an ambassador for Camfed International, an organization seeking to educate girls in rural Africa.
In addition, Watson promotes fair trade and organic clothing. Her black and white dress worn to the 2016 Met gala was made from Newlife, a yarn constructed from 100 percent post-consumer plastic bottles. According to her, sustainable fashion is “absolutely a feminist issue” because most factories today exploit female workers.
READ MORE: Emma Watson Promotes Women in STEM With ‘The Circle’ (VIDEO)
This Oscar-winning actress is a big animal rights advocate. She previously owned her own brand of vegan shoes. Additionally, she has traveled to Uganda, Guatemala and Ecuador as FINCA International’s Ambassador of Hope. With FINCA, Portman supported anti-poverty initiatives such as helping mothers become more economically sufficient.
The “Jackie” actress was also a Free the Children ambassador and she spearheaded the organization’s Power of a Girl campaign, which helped provide girls in developing countries an opportunity to go to school.
READ MORE: Natalie Portman Gets ‘Every Jew’s Secret Wish’ (VIDEO)
Charlize Theron founded the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project in 2007 to help African youth keep safe from HIV/AIDS. Then in 2008, the United Nations honored her as the organization’s tenth messenger of peace, where she used her role to focus on HIV prevention and eliminate violence against women.
The “Mad Max: Fury Road” actress has also appeared in various South African campaigns that advocate to stop violence against women.
Angelina Jolie is a well-known humanitarian and activist. In 2001, she joined the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as a Goodwill Ambassador to help refugees around the world. Under this title, Jolie has traveled to over 30 countries to help end violence against women and children in conflict zones. Eventually, the United Nations promoted Jolie from Goodwill Ambassador to a diplomat in 2010. With her new role as diplomat, she began speaking out against sexual violence.
Additionally, Brad Pitt and Jolie established the Jolie Pitt Foundation in 2006, which has donated millions of dollars to various organizations such as Doctors Without Borders, which sends medical supplies to those affected by conflict, and Global Action for Children, which improves the lives of children in developing countries.
READ MORE: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Divorce: Are Some Women Too Independent for Marriage?
