As Hollywood took time to honour Angelina Jolie for her charitable work, the Oscar-winning actress eloquently thanked her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, for all she did to guide the actress.

On November 16, Jolie was honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the fifth annual Governors Awards.

The humanitarian prize was awarded to the actress for her charitable work with United Nations Refugee Agency for the past decade, for which she had made over 40 field missions, including helping refugees from Cambodia and Syria. 

In a packed room at the Grand Ballroom of the Hollywood and Highland Center, Jolie was introduced by the cast from her directorial debut, 'In the Land of Blood and Honey,' who thanked the 38-year-old actress for giving a voice to hose who served and survived in the Balkan war.

Presented to her by director George Lucas, Jolie was overwhelmed by the applause, but didn't let her emotions get the better of her.

'Thank you so much. It's quite overwhelming,' said Jolie. 'Thank you to the members of the Academy for this honor, my dear friends who are here tonight...And most of all, to my family.'

The actress, who was accompanied to the event by partner Brad Pitt and son, 12-year-old Maddox, made it a point to thank them.

'My love, your guidance and support make everything that I do possible,' said a tearful Jolie. 'Mad, I'm not going to cry, I promise. I won't embarrass you. You and your brothers and sisters are my happiness. And there is no greater honour in this world than being your mom.'

The Girl Interrupted star than took a moment to thank her greatest influence: her mother.