Angelina Jolie to star in series on Syrian refugees

Angelina Jolie to star in series on Syrian refugees
Jolie will be joined by football star Cristiano Ronaldo and Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram to feature on Turkish TV series about a Syrian refugee family in Turkey.
2 min read
15 March, 2017
Angelina Jolie serves as a goodwill ambassador for UNHCR [Getty]
Global icon and US actress Angelina Jolie is expected to visit the Turkish province of Gaziantep to shoot for a TV show about a Syrian family that has fled the country's civil war.

Jolie will be joined by football star Cristiano Ronaldo and Lebanese pop star Nancy Ajram, who will feature on the Turkish TV series "Hayat Koprusu" (The Bridge of Life).

Filming of the show, which consists of three seasons, will begin in April, according to director Eyup Dirlik.

"We will begin filming in the first week of April, the series is about the plight of a refugee family and what they go through," director Eyup Dirlik said.

"There will be appearances from actors and actresses from all over the world including Cristiano Ronaldo, Angelina Jolie and Nancy Ajram."

The show is expected to air in the Middle East and Latin America.

Jolie, who serves as a goodwill ambassador for UNHCR, is also known for her humanitarian work.

Last year, the actress shone a light on the thousands of refugees that have suffered loss and trauma when she visited a refugee camp in Jordan for Syrians fleeing bombing and fighting.

She has repeatedly called on leaders to end the crisis in Syria.

"After five years (Syrian) refugees do not want to know by what percentage their lives might be made fractionally more bearable, but when they will be able to go home,” she said in September.

Similarly, football star Ronaldo has shown his support for Syrian refugees in a series of tweets and videos.

In December, he shared a special message to Syrian children in a video posted on his social media accounts.

"This is for the children of Syria," he said. "We know that you have been suffering a lot. I am a very famous player – but you are the true heroes. Don't lose your hope. The world is with you. We care about you. I am with you."

Meanwhile, Lebanese singer Ajram has been a UNICEF ambassador for the Middle East since 2009.

She is known for taking part in many fundraising events and working to help refugees in the region.

Some 2.7 million Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey since the war in Syria began six years ago.