( CNN ) Angelina Jolie took the stage Saturday at Nickelodeon 's 28th Annual Kids ' Choice Awards and delivered a message of hope to anyone who 's ever felt out of place . In her first public appearance since revealing that she underwent a second preventive surgery to lower her risk of cancer , Jolie attended the show with her children , Shiloh and Zahara . She hugged them before she went to the stage to accept the favorite villain award for her role as Maleficent in the live-action reimagining of `` Sleeping Beauty . '' `` When I was little , like Maleficent , I was told that I was different . And I felt out of place -- too loud , too full of fire , never good at sitting still , never good at fitting in , '' the 39-year-old actor and humanitarian said . `` And , then one day I realized something , something that I hope you all realize : Different is good , '' she said , prompting enthusiastic screams from the young crowd . `` And , as your villain , I would also say cause a little trouble -- it 's good for you . '' Jolie 's career has been full of unconventional twists and turns , from her breakthrough role in the biopic `` Gia '' to her current role as an actor , filmmaker and special envoy of the U.N. 's High Commissioner for Refugees . Her personal life also has made front page headlines over the years , including her adoption of children from developing countries and her candor in discussing her health . Jolie , 39 , wrote Tuesday in a New York Times essay that she had opted for the surgery after blood tests revealed markers that might have been an indication of early cancer . Two years ago , she underwent a double mastectomy for similar reasons . Jolie 's mother died of ovarian cancer , and the actress has a gene mutation that makes her chances of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer much higher than the overall population . Jolie 's revelation provoked an outpouring of support as the news spread across social media . `` It is not easy to make these decisions . But it is possible to take control and tackle head-on any health issue . You can seek advice , learn about the options and make choices that are right for you . Knowledge is power , '' she wrote .
Maleficent tells Kids ' Choice Awards audience that she felt out of place growing up . She came to accept that `` different is good ''