Oprah Winfrey through the Years [PHOTOS]

The Film Academy Award has come to Oprah Winfrey’s defense following mounting criticisms over the media mogul’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

After years in the entertainment industry, it looks like the Academy believes it is about time to recognize Winfrey for her humanitarian activities.

According to the Associated Press, the Academy’s President Tom Sherak said in a statement Wednesday that the media tycoon is “"one of the most philanthropic performers in the world" and "exemplifies giving back to the community, the world, society in an extraordinary way."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has named Winfrey as among the big Hollywood celebrities to be presented of the Oscar gold statuettes at the Annual Governors Awards in November this year.

"Oprah has given and given and given," Sherak was quoted as saying by the AP, adding that the Queen of Talk has spent an estimated $500 million of her own money to charitable causes.

Critics are saying that there are other personalities in Hollywood who are equally deserving of the honor, noting that Oprah’s works are largely on television and not in films.

But Sherak was quick to defend the Academy’s decision.

"She's a member of the academy, she was nominated for an Academy Award and she has produced movies. This is not about personality. This is about a person who has come from the depths, risen to the heights and given back. That's a perfect example of why this award was created," Sherak said.

Oprah joins James Earl Jones and makeup artist Dick Smith who will be presented in November’s annual film gathering.

The Queen of Talk propelled to fame as a radio host until she got a break on television in the 80s.

View PHOTOS and see Oprah through the years.