Courtesy Oxfam/Abbie Trayler SmithKeira Knightley is using her star power for good!
The British actress—who is no stranger to traveling for philanthropic work—recently toured a South Sudanese refugee camp on a trip that coincides with the region's three-year anniversary of its independence from Sudan.
In an effort to raise awareness for the victims of a civil war that has left millions in need of aid, Knightley embarked on the humanitarian mission to the war-torn region with Oxfam and found it to be a harrowing experience.
While recounting her heartbreaking yet charitable trek to the Telegraph, Knightley fought to hold back tears, but she didn't cry while she was there.
"What bloody right would I have to cry when the people I met, who were living in as near to hell as I can imagine, weren't crying?" the 29-year-old asked rhetorically.
The Begin Again star further explained: "I'd never been in a post-conflict zone, I'd never experienced the incredible, palpable atmosphere of terror or smelled the breathtaking stench of sewage from tens of thousands of people crammed together, with nowhere to go and nothing to do but wait."
Her famous face was not recognized by the refugees and when asked who she was, Knightley lamented her inability to reply with "'I'm a doctor,' or something else useful," so she said, "I am somebody who is going to ask people to give lots of money to Oxfam, so they can help you."
Being a celebrity do-gooder is important to Knightley, but she avoids any comparisons to Angelina Jolie, who was newly made an honorary Dame by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II for her work in ending rape as a weapon of war.
"I admire Angelina Jolie hugely," she said, but added, "I don't think I could ever be anything like as impressive or authoritative as she is on the world stage. She's pretty much devoting her life to her causes, and that's a great thing, a great message. I'm always happy to help in any small way I can."