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In October 2005, I went to hear Bono, the lead singer of rock band U2 and global poverty-fighter, at New York University. He wasn't there to sing, although he was met outside the door by a crowd of adoring fans. He was there to advocate for the world's poor, sick, and hungry, sharing top billing with renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs.

During his talk, Bono explained how Sachs was his mentor, teaching him about the roots of poverty in the developing world, traveling with him to Africa, and convincing him it was possible to end global poverty. But lately, he lamented, when he called Sachs, he was told, "Sorry, he's with Angelina Jolie."

That line brought down the house. At that point, film actress Jolie was just coming under Sachs' tutelage. She was an increasingly important celebrity advocate for the poor, but she had nowhere near the creds of Bono, who was that year nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and named Time magazine's person of the year.

Fast forward two years and the picture has changed a bit. Bono is still large on the world stage as a humanitarian, social activist and rock star. But Jolie, in large part due to constant media focus on her relationship with actor Brad Pitt, has lately become a more prominent fixture in the news media.

Jolie has been a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Refugee Agency since 2001, but her involvement with Pitt starting in 2005 has increased her influence. Marketers now rank her among the most influential celebrities in the world. She has been photographed repeatedly on UN missions to Africa and Asia, adopting three children from Cambodia, Ethiopia and Vietnam.