The traditional green slime flowed at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in California – but it was Angelina Jolie’s message of empowerment for youngsters that stuck.

Angelina, who has sought to inspire women with public candour about her own health, said that “different is good” as she accepted the favourite villain award for her movie role as the title character in Maleficent.

The actress said that when she was young, “I was told 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.

“When someone tells you that you are different, smile and hold your head up and be proud,” she said, then added with a wink: “Cause a little trouble. It’s good for you.”

Angelina Jolie.
Chris Pratt presents the award for favorite villain to Angelina Jolie for “Maleficent” at Nickelodeon’s 28th annual Kids’ Choice Award (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP/PA)

The actress and filmmaker, who disclosed earlier this week that she had undergone additional surgery aimed at preventing cancer, received excited hugs from daughters Shiloh and Zahara when her name was announced.

Angelina, writing in the New York Times on Tuesday, revealed that she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed in the hopes of reducing her risk of cancer.

Angelina Jolie.
Angelina made an inspiring speech (Matt Sayles/AP/PA)

Two years ago, she disclosed that she carries a defective breast cancer gene that puts her at high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

Nick Jonas hosted the ceremony, which also honoured the group Fifth Harmony as favourite new artist and Liam Hemsworth and Jennifer Lawrence of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 as favourite action stars. The film was also voted favourite movie.