She's played a crime-fighter and a secret agent on the big screen, but a new report reveals Angelina Jolie almost became part of a real life spy mission.
The Oscar-winning actress is as famous for her philanthropy as her movie career. She is a longtime United Nations High Commission for Refugees Goodwill Ambassador, using her celebrity status to draw attention to issues around the world. Her work for children and women has earned her recognition, including the Citizen of the World Award.
So maybe it's not so surprising that the International Criminal court approached the actress, hoping to sign her up for a dangerous mission to capture the Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony. Details of the daring plan were leaked in a set of over 40,000 documents obtained by French website Mediapart.
Kony was the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army militia, and is wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity, including for abducting children who he trained to fight as child soldiers. Famously, he was the target of the "Kony 2012" social media campaign, which hoped to help capture the warlord.
By the time Jolie was brought in on the plan in 2012, Kony was still on the loose with a $5 million bounty on his head, hiding in a heavily armored and guarded compound in Sudan.
That's when the famous actress was recruited to help bring him to justice...
E-mails between former ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo and Jolie reveal that the star was meant to be "live bait" for the warlord during a staged humanitarian trip.
The actress may have even come up with the plan herself, as an e-mail from Ocampo says that Jolie "has an idea to invite Kony to dinner and then arrest him." Other e-mails reveal details of the plan, which involved sending Jolie and possibly her then-husband Brad Pitt to the Central African Republic.
"Apparently you can be embedded with special forces that are chasing Kony. Can Brad go with you?" Ocampo wrote. "Brad is being supportive. let's discuss logistics. Much love Xxx," Jolie wrote back. While they both seemed enthusiastic, their plan was never realized.
"She loves to arrest Kony. She is ready. Probably Brad will go also," Ocampo wrote, but he later e-mailed Jolie saying "Dear Angie, I hope you are well. I miss you." Jolie never replied, and another e-mail sent by Ocampo received a reply that Jolie had changed her e-mail address.
Strangely, Jolie wasn't the only celebrity recruited by the ICC executive. He also tried to schedule a meeting with Sean Penn, and asked George Clooney to use his charity's private satellites to spy on Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
As of this year, American and Ugandan troops have given up the search for Kony.
Share this bizarre story with someone you know!
[H/T: Mediapart, The Sunday Times]