Kidman still attracts big pay cheques

Nicole Kidman may have a problem enticing Americans to see her films but Hollywood studios keep writing her multi-million dollar cheques.

Forbes magazine has released its list of the top 15 earning actresses of the past financial year, with Angelina Jolie at number one pocketing $US27 million ($A34.14 million), just ahead of nemesis Jennifer Aniston who pulled in $US25 million ($A31.61 million).

Three years ago Kidman was ranked the top earning actress in Hollywood due to the mammoth $US17 million ($A21.5 million) payday she received for her performance in the science fiction dud, The Invasion.

The Australian redhead has slipped a little on the pecking order for 2008/09 but please don't send canned food to her mansions in Nashville, Los Angeles and estate in the Southern Highlands of NSW.

Kidman is doing just fine.

Forbes named Kidman equal eighth, earning $US12 million ($A15.17 million) the past year largely for her performance in the Baz Luhrmann epic Australia.

Sharing eighth with Kidman was Drew Barrymore.

"Kidman's much-hyped reunion with Baz Luhrmann, last year's Australia, didn't do quite as well as expected, but it still pulled in $US211 million at the international box office," Forbes states.

Another Australian Oscar winner, Cate Blanchett, took 11th spot with $US8 million ($A10.12 million) for her roles in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

"Blanchett has managed to escape the Best Supporting Actress curse," Forbes states.

"Her career has actually gotten better since she won the award in 2004 for playing Katherine Hepburn in The Aviator. Up next she'll play Maid Marian opposite Russell Crowe in Robin Hood."

Kidman has received poor press in the US the past year, with a Los Angeles Times columnist suggesting Kidman was not a movie star.

Luhrmann's Australia cost $US130 million ($A164.39 million) to make and only earned a paltry $US49.55 million ($A62.66 million) in North American cinemas, considering the publicity blitz. It was elsewhere in the world where the film made money.

A similar result occurred for 2007's The Golden Compass.

It cost $US180 million ($A227.62 million) to make but earned just $US70 million ($A88.52 million) in North America. Elsewhere it did huge box office, collecting $US302 million ($A381.89 million).

Forbes calculated the earnings for Hollywood's leading ladies by talking to "agents, managers, producers and lawyers to determine what the stars earned as upfront pay on movies they are currently shooting, as well as back-end pay earned after a movie hit the theatres".

Forbes also calculated any money actresses might have earned through their perfume or clothing lines.

Jolie was number one thanks largely to her action film Wanted which cashed in with $US341 million ($A431.21 million) in worldwide box office.

Aniston, who used to be married to Jolie's boyfriend Brad Pitt, finished number two again to Jolie despite her romantic comedy Marley & Me taking $US244 million ($A308.55 million). Aniston also earns big money as the face of the popular drink, SmartWater.

Meryl Streep, at the age of 60, came in a close third with $US24 million ($A30.35 million) after her musical Mamma Mia! earned $US603 million ($A762.52 million) worldwide. Up next she plays chef Julia Child in Julie & Julia.

Sex and the City's Sarah Jessica Parker was fourth taking $US23 million ($A29.08 million), Cameron Diaz fifth on $US20 million ($A25.29 million) and Sandra Bullock and Reese Witherspoon tied for sixth with $US15 million ($A18.97 million).

Following Kidman and Barrymore was Renee Zellweger in 10th with $US10 million ($A12.65 million).

Anne Hathaway and Halle Berry were equal 12th with $US7 million ($A8.85 million), Scarlett Johansson 14th with $US5.5 million ($A6.95 million) and reigning best actress Oscar winner Kate Winslet 15th on $US2 million ($A2.53 million).