Hollywood's leading ladies were honored with Oscar nominations this week, and accomplished and time-tested actresses like Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock both earned nominations. While credibility and experience is always a valued commodity, it's youth that topped the earning list among females in Hollywood this year, as 19-year-old Emma Watson banked the most money in 2009, signaling a major shift in the showbiz landscape.
For years, industry stalwarts like Angelina Jolie, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston topped the actress earnings list. While they're certainly not Hollywood's most elder crowd, they brought to the table seasoned and respected filmographies along with their good looks. Watson's topping of the Vanity Fair earning chart signifies a shift away from this.
At just 19, Watson's career has infinite possibilities. Her earnings are based largely on her work in the 'Harry Potter' series as Hermione, and the fact that the series' finale is coming in two parts -- for which Watson pulled in $15 million per film. That put her annual bankroll for 2009 at $30 million, edging out Cameron Diaz by 10 percent, as the lanky blonde pulled in $27 million.
----------------------------------------------------
That's magic! Harry Potter star Emma Watson is named Hollywood's highest paid actress
By Paul Thompson
Last year was a big one for Emma Watson.
She had her final teenage birthday, she started university - and she managed to become the highest paid female star in Hollywood.
The Harry Potter actress, 19, is said to have banked more in 2009 than established stars such as Cameron Diaz, Angelina Jolie and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Her income was put at £20million in the table of Hollywood's top 40 earners compiled by Vanity Fair magazine.
Top earner: Despite trying to maintain a normal life Harry Potter actress Emma Watson was the highest paid female star in Hollywood in 2009
She came 14th overall - and is the youngest person, male or female, to appear.
The magazine said her fee for appearing as Hermione in the final two parts of the Harry Potter series, The Deathly Hallows I and II, was £10million for each film.
Her Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe fared even better and was placed sixth overall with an income of £25.6million.
Incredibly, the 20-year-old was the highest paid actor on the list, with the top five places all occupied by directors.
The magazine, which compiled its figures from various Hollywood sources, said Radcliffe pulled in £25million for his role in the final two Potter films.
He earned a further £600,000 in royalties from Harry Potter merchandise.
Radcliffe, who has used some of his earnings to build up a property portfolio in the UK and U.S., earned more than Johnny Depp and Robert De Niro.
The list was topped by director Michael
Bay who made the Transformers films.
His income was put at £78.12million with Steven Spielberg second with £ 53.1million.
James Cameron, the director and producer of Avatar, was fourth with £31.25million.
Radcliffe and Miss Watson's Harry Potter co-star Rupert Grint made it on to the list at No 15, with £20million.
Twilight star Robert Pattinson earned £11.25million to reach No 38, two places above Brad Pitt.
Big screen hit: Emma has played the heroine Hermione in all of the Potter films.
-------------------
Its all about REP
-------------------
