NEW YORK, Dec 8: She may be busy nursing twins, but "Pretty Woman" Julia Roberts is still the biggest draw in Hollywood, earning 20 million dollars a film.

Julia Roberts, 37, topped the Hollywood Reporter's annual list of highest-paid actresses, edging out Cameron Diaz, who also commands a 20-million-dollar fee, but placed second in the list because of her absence from the big screen this year.

The "Charlie's Angels" star's only "appearance" this year was lending her voice to the animated feature "Shrek 2". On the other hand, Ms Roberts, who gave birth to twins Hazel and Phinnaeus last week, is all over American billboards with two new releases in US cinemas, "Closer" and "Ocean's Twelve".

Cameron Diaz will have a chance to claim the top spot next year, with Julia Roberts saying she intends to take time off to care for her new family. Third on the list was Australian Nicole Kidman, who pulls in 15 million dollars a film and was judged by the Hollywood Reporter to have more star power than Reese Wither spoon and Drew Barrymore who commanded similar salaries.

Taking the sixth berth with 14 million dollars was 2002 Oscar winner Halle Berry, whose star waned slightly this year with a critical roasting for the big budget "Catwoman" which flopped at the box office.

"Miss Congeniality" Sandra Bullock and Angelina Jolie, currently on view in another epic flop "Alexander", were next with cheques of between 12 million and 15 million dollars per film.

"Bridget Jones" star Renee Zellweger ranked number nine, while the hapless Jennifer Lopez - suffering a run of box-office duds - slipped to 10th place with a paltry 12-million-dollar price tag.

The most powerful woman in Hollywood, according to the list, was Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Media Networks for the Walt Disney Co and president of Disney-ABC Television Group. -AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...
Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....