Kristen Stewart, the famous Twilight starlet, recently topped Forbes’ highest-paid actresses list. She made an estimated $34.5 million from May 2011 to May 2012. $34.5 million may seem like a lot of money, but women in the acting business are paid less than men. The women who made it onto Forbes’ highest-paid actresses list only earn a total of $200 million, compared to the $361 million that the top men rake in. There are many factors that determine who ends up on Forbes’ list. Upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements, and advertising work are all considered. Agency fees and expenses related to having a celebrity lifestyle are not included. Managers, agents, lawyers, and other people who are in the Hollywood loop helped Forbes to come up with their estimates.

At 22, Stewart is the youngest actress on the Forbes list by 16 years.

Needless to say, Stewart’s reoccurring role as Bella Swan in the Twilight saga has helped her to reach the peak of her career and the top of the Forbes’ list. Her latest role as Snow White in “Snow White and the Huntsman” has also helped her revenue.

Veteran actress Cameron Diaz ranked second on the Forbes list. Diaz raked in $34 million over the same time-frame as Stewart. Her 2011 comedy, Bad Teacher, made $216 million in global ticket sales, which is more than double of what its budget was. “The Green Hornet” and “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” also helped Diaz to be ranked second.

Surprisingly, Sandra Bullock trailed $9 million behind Cameron Diaz. Bullock raked in $25 million. The 47-year old actress is still earning revenue from her 2009 Oscar winning hit, “The Blind Side”. The film earned $310 million.

During Christmas of 2011, Bullock’s film “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” only earned $48 million. Bullock is currently working on a big-budget sci-fi film directed by Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity. The film also stars George Clooney. “Gravity” is scheduled to be released in 2013.

Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron rounded out the top 5 on the Forbes list. Jolie raked in $20 million while Theron raked in $18 million.

Kristen Stewart may be snatching the number one spot again next year on Forbes’ list of highest-paid actresses. Stewart has the highly anticipated last installment of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn– Part 2 to look forward to later this year. She is currently working on the film Cali, which is scheduled to be released in 2013.

Image Courtesy of  Gage Skidmore

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Brad Pitt has been voted the Top Money-Making Star of 2011 in Quigley Publishing Company’s 80th Annual Poll of Motion Picture Exhibitors. This is Pitt’s sixth appearance in the Poll, but his first win. Exhibitors felt Pitt was responsible for more traffic to theatres than any other Hollywood star based on his performances this year in “Moneyball,” “The Tree of Life,” and “Happy Feet Two.”

The Quigley Poll, conducted each year since 1932, is an annual survey of motion picture theatre owners and film buyers, which asks them to vote for the ten stars that they believe generated the most box-office revenue for their theatres during the year. It has been long regarded as one of the most reliable indicators of a star’s real box office draw because the selections are made by professionals whose livelihood depends on choosing the films and actors that will bring audiences to their theatres. The Quigley Poll lists the results of all the Polls since Marie Dressler, Janet Gaynor, and Joan Crawford took the top three places in 1932.

George Clooney placed second this year based on “The Ides of March,” where he was also the director, producer, and co-writer, and “The Descendants.” Johnny Depp, last year’s winner, made it to number three this year with 2011 roles in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and “The Rum Diary.”  Depp has placed in the poll seven times, as has this year’s number four, Leonardo DiCaprio, who starred in “J. Edgar.” Matt Damon, number five, had a very busy year with “Contagion,” “The Adjustment Bureau,” “Margaret,” and “We Bought a Zoo.”

Sandra Bullock, winner of 2009, placed number six, which marks her fifth appearance in the poll. She first placed in the survey in 1995. There were two first-timers this year, Bradley Cooper number seven and Ben Stiller number ten. Bradley Cooper was in “The Hangover Part II,” and Ben Stiller was in “Tower Heist.” Robert Downey, Jr. was number eight on the strength of “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” and Meryl Streep was number nine as ‘The Iron Lady” and is in the Top Ten for the fourth time.

Tom Cruise has not placed in the Poll since 2006, but he has been in the Top Ten 20 times since 1983 and has been voted number one the most of any actor – seven times. Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood, Burt Reynolds, and Bing Crosby have all won five times. Clint Eastwood has been in the poll 21 times starting in 1968. Currently, exhibitors appreciate him more as a director that brings audiences to their theatres. John Wayne, Doris Day, and Shirley Temple each finished first four times, but John Wayne was voted one of the Top Ten Money-Making Stars an astounding 25 times from 1949 to 1974.

Exhibitors were also asked to name the Stars of Tomorrow for 2011, one actor and one actress who they feel will be Top Money-Makers in the years to come. The 2011 winners are Rooney Mara, who played Lisbeth Salander in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” and Jonah Hill, who had a breakthrough performance in “Moneyball” and starred in “The Sitter.”

Top Ten Money-Making Stars of 2011

1. Brad Pitt
2. George Clooney
3. Johnny Depp
4. Leonardo Di Caprio
5. Matt Damon
6. Sandra Bullock
7. Bradley Cooper
8. Robert Downey, Jr.
9. Meryl Streep
10. Ben Stiller

Stars of Tomorrow:

Rooney Mara
Jonah Hill

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