Just magic: Harry Potter star Emma Watson named highest earning actress

11 April 2012
The Weekender

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Teenage Harry Potter actress Emma Watson was named Hollywood's highest-paid female star today.

The 19-year-old is said to have raked in £20 million last year - more than well-established actresses like Cameron Diaz - the only other woman in the overall top 20.


Magic touch: Emma Watson has been named Hollywood's highest earning star

The list was compiled by Vanity Fair magazine and saw Watson come 14th overall.

As well as starring in the Harry Potter films, university student Watson has also fronted adverts for fashion brand Burberry.

Watson's Harry Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe was placed sixth on the overall list, with his 2009 earnings put at more than £25 million.


In fashion: Emma Watson in a Burberry campaign

Another Harry Potter star, Rupert Grint, was 15th on the list.

Transformers film maker Michael Bay topped the survey, with his income thought to be more than £78 million.

Steven Spielberg was in second place with more than £53 million estimated earnings.

James Cameron, whose record-breaking sci-fi blockbuster Avatar is a front runner in this year's Oscar nominations, was placed fourth.

The magazine said it interviewed people with access to deal terms in compiling its list, including agents, lawyers and studio executives.

Hollywood's top 20 earners with their estimated 2009 earnings in US dollars

1. Michael Bay ($125 million)
2. Steven Spielberg ($85 million)
3. Roland Emmerich ($70 million)
4. James Cameron ($50 million)
5. Todd Phillips ($44 million)
6. Daniel Radcliffe ($41 million)
7. Ben Stiller ($40 million)
8. Tom Hanks ($36 million)
9. JJ Abrams ($36 million)
10. Jerry Bruckheimer ($35.5 million)
11. Tyler Perry ($32.5 million)
12. Adam Sandler ($31.5 million)
13. Denzel Washington ($31 million)
14. Emma Watson ($30 million)
15. Rupert Grint ($30 million)
16. Owen Wilson ($29 million)
17. Nicolas Cage ($28 million)
18. Russell Crowe ($28 million)
19. Cameron Diaz ($27 million)
20. Brian Grazer and Ron Howard ($25.5 million)

The list is in the March issue of Vanity Fair, on sale from today.

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