Angelina Jolie Awarded Cambodian Citizenship

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – A royal decree approving citizenship for actress Angelina Jolie (search) was signed by King Norodom Sihamoni on July 31, Sok Sam Oeun, an official of the Council of Ministers, said Friday.

Sok Sam Oeun said he was working through Jolie's contacts in Cambodia (search) to notify the 30-year-old actress of her new citizenship.

Prime Minister Hun Sen offered Jolie citizenship in recognition of her generosity when she visited the country last summer.

Jolie, who adopted her son, Maddox (search), from Cambodia in 2002, is giving Cambodian Vision in Development, a community development group, $1.5 million for its environmental protection efforts in remote parts of the country's northwest.

"This is what we have dreamed for her for a long time," said Mounh Sarath, director of Cambodian Vision in Development. "Now it's a dream come true."

He said Jolie deserves citizenship "not because of the money she has given but her good heart and love" for the Cambodian people.

Scenes for Jolie's 2001 movie, "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," were filmed at Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat temple.

Jolie adopted her daughter, Zahara, from Ethiopia last month.