Among all the leading ladies in Hollywood, REESE WITHERSPOON earns top dollar.
According to the Associated Press, Reese earns any where between between $15 million to $20 million a movie, awarding her first place on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of the highest-paid actresses.
Here’s the Complete List Of Hollywood’s Highest Paid Leading Ladies From The Hollywood Reporter:
1. Reese Witherspoon — $15 million-$20 millionAmerica’s sweetheart is returning to her romantic comedy — and boxoffice green — roots with the slated Christmas 2008 release of New Line’s “Four Christmases,” which Witherspoon is also producing. Her upcoming schedule remains active with the horror flick “Our Family Trouble,” produced by her own Type A Films, but the hardworking actress and producer recently took a hit with the flop of New Line’s “Rendition,” which received more action from its behind-the-scenes romance rumors than at the boxoffice.
2. Angelina Jolie — $15 million-$20 million
While 2005’s “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” was a boxoffice smash and payday success for Jolie, her reteaming with partner Brad Pitt proved not so prosperous at the boxoffice this year with the Pitt-produced “A Mighty Heart,” from Paramount Vantage. But her pull was reconfirmed as she lent her voice to Paramount’s 3-D take on the epic poem “Beowulf,” which netted Jolie around $8 million for five weeks of work and opened No. 1 at the boxoffice on its opening weekend. On deck, Jolie will return to animation with DreamWorks’ “Kung Fu Panda,” which pairs Jolie with an all-star cast on her first family-oriented film since 2004’s “Shark Tale.” Jolie will also appear in Universal’s upcoming “Wanted,” based on Mark Miller’s graphic novel with Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy, and Universal’s mystery “The Changeling,” with John Malkovich.
3. Cameron Diaz — $15+ million
Diaz might have cashed in on her biggest payday to date this year courtesy of franchise cash cow “Shrek the Third,” which brought her more than $30 million. And while a paycheck like that could weigh down any girl’s handbag, it probably didn’t break the bank for the studio, which has taken in almost $800 million in worldwide boxoffice grosses from the third “Shrek” installment. Diaz will join the franchise for a fourth outing in 2010. In the near future, she will continue to tickle audiences’ funny bones with Fox’s “What Happens in Vegas … ,” co-starring Ashton Kutcher, and she will take a stab at the horror genre in the Weinstein Co.’s “The Box.”
4. Nicole Kidman — $10 million-$15 million
Oscar’s golden girl hit a rough patch this year with Warner Bros.’ “Invasion” — Kidman’s largest check ever, cashing in at $15 million-$16 million — underperforming at the boxoffice, while Noah Baumbach’s “Margot at the Wedding,” from Paramount Vantage, failed to awe audiences. Kidman will look to put an end to the downward spiral with the Dec. 7 release of New Line’s “The Golden Compass,” which reteams her with Daniel Craig. Looking ahead, Kidman could return to Oscar’s podium sooner than she thought when she joins director Baz Luhrmann again for Bazmark Films’ pre-World War II drama “Australia” and later stars opposite Ralph Fiennes in MGM’s postwar romantic drama “The Reader.”
5. Renee Zellweger — $10 million-$15 million
With paydays of $15 million apiece for 2004’s “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” and 2005’s “Cinderella Man,” the buzz surrounding Zellweger was helped this year with the success of Paramount/DreamWorks Animation’s “Bee Movie.” Next, she will appear alongside George Clooney in Universal’s football-centric romantic comedy “Leatherheads” (the sports movie thing worked before for Zellweger), followed by Paramount’s thriller “Case 39.”
6. Sandra Bullock — $10 million-$15 million
Bullock proved her boxoffice pull with the “Speed” and “Miss Congeniality” franchises, allowing her to tackle juicier roles like the reclusive Harper Lee in last year’s “Infamous.” While she carried this year’s moderately well-received thriller “Premonition,” from MGM, she hasn’t forgotten why audiences love her: She’s taking her humor and fun-loving snort back to the big screen in Fox’s “All About Steve,” pairing her with Thomas Haden Church.
7. Julia Roberts — $10 million-$15 million
A couple of years back, Roberts’ bankability was unarguable, but then she took some time away from the spotlight to be a mom. This Christmas she’s back to reclaim her throne as one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses with Universal’s “Charlie Wilson’s War,” reuniting Roberts with director Mike Nichols. Later, Roberts hooks back up with Clive Owen in Tony Gilroy’s provocative thriller “Duplicity,” from Universal, and tackles the family drama “Fireflies in the Garden.”
8. Drew Barrymore — $10 million-$12 million
Barrymore returned to the romantic-comedy genre this year with two Warner Bros. outings after audiences failed to catch “Fever Pitch” in 2005: She flexed her vocal cords alongside Hugh Grant in Warner Bros.’ “Music and Lyrics,” but failed to get lucky with audiences in Warners’ “Lucky You.” Dynasties will collide when the Barrymore progeny takes on the Kennedy’s Camelot in HBO Films’ “Grey Gardens,” following the lives of Jackie O.’s aunt and cousin. Later, Barrymore will return to comedy in Disney’s animated “South of the Border.” But don’t let that giggle fool you, the girl also commands the big bucks with her smart producing choices, including New Line’s upcoming “He’s Just Not That Into You,” based on the best-selling book.
9. Jodie Foster — $10 million-$12 million
Foster is swinging back into the top moneymakers category with Warner Bros.’ surprise hit “The Brave One,” which performed better than expected at the boxoffice and brought the actress home around $10 million-$12 million for both her acting and executive producing duties. A look at Foster’s call sheet reveals she’s been taking on projects at a rate of just one per year, though that’s not a reflection of her fans being silenced — they’ve packed the theaters for recent hits like 2006’s “Inside Man” and 2005’s “Flightplan.” Future plans include Fox-Walden’s adventure “Nim’s Island.”
10. Halle Berry — $10 million
While many didn’t turn out to see it, Berry reminded a small audience why she has an Oscar on her mantel with her performance in Paramount’s “Things We Lost in the Fire.” Though her earlier 2007 outing for Sony’s “Perfect Stranger” also stalled at the boxoffice, her onscreen sultry presence reminded audiences why Berry gets the big bucks. She’s set to reteam with Billy Bob Thorton, as well as put back on her producing hat for Lionsgate’s crime drama “Tulia.” The hat will stay on for DreamWorks’ “Class Act,” the biopic of Nevada congresswoman Tierney Cahill, in which Berry will also star.
