NEW YORK – Angelina Jolie is Hollywood’s top
earning actress, banking $27 million in the past year to beat
out her partner Brad Pitt’s ex-wife Jennifer Aniston, who raked
in $25 million, a Forbes.com study showed.
Most of Jolie’s income came from her share of
the profits from her action film "Wanted," but she was also paid
a large upfront sum for her role in "Salt," the study said.
Jolie and Pitt have six children.
Aniston, who was married to Pitt before he
became involved with Jolie, earned most of her millions from the
romantic comedy "Marley and Me" and her upcoming film "The
Baster."
"Aniston also still earns money from (reruns
of TV series) ‘Friends’ and she gets a nice paycheck shilling
for Glaceau’s SmartWater," Forbes.com said.
Meryl Streep came in at No. 3 with $24
million, most of which came from her role in "Mamma Mia," while
Sarah Jessica Parker was ranked fourth with $23 million in
earnings following the movie version of TV series "Sex and the
City."
Cameron Diaz rounds out the top five, banking
$20 million between June 2008 and June 2009.
Forbes.com said it spoke to agents, managers,
producers and lawyers to work out what actresses were paid
upfront for movies they are currently shooting and what pay they
might have earned after a movie hit the theaters. Money earned
from perfume or clothing lines was also taken into account.
"As is still typical for Hollywood, our
actresses earned significantly less than their male
counterparts," Forbes.com said, pointing out that the top
earning male actor, Harrison Ford, made $65 million.
The full list can be seen at www.forbes.com. – Reuters