She is now wading into the Syrian crisis, which has seen thousands of residents flee in recent weeks due to violence in the country and a crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations.

Jolie is hoping to visit refugee camps in southern Turkey, where many Syrians have ended up. Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesman Selcuk Unal has confirmed officials are "currently considering the request".

The actress travelled to Tunisia in April (11) to see the country's own refugee crisis first-hand as thousands fled from neighbouring war-torn Libya.