Highest-Paid Actress? Thank Twilight

Kristen Stewart earned an estimated $34.5M
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 20, 2012 9:16 AM CDT
Highest-Paid Actress? Thank Twilight
Kristen Stewart accepts the award for best kiss during the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday, June 3, 2012, in Los Angeles.   (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)

The No. 1 spot on Forbes' latest list of the highest-paid actresses goes to a 22-year-old, and we have Twilight to thank for that. Kristen Stewart was paid an estimated $12.5 million per film for the last two in the franchise, plus some of the profits. Couple that with Snow White and the Huntsman, and her estimated earnings between May 2011 and May 2012 are $34.5 million. She's the youngest woman on this year's list, followed by 16-years-older Kristen Wiig. The rest of the top 5:

  1. Cameron Diaz: Bad Teacher did surprisingly well at the box office, bringing in $216 million, and Diaz took home a portion of the profits. Her estimated earnings: $34 million.
  2. Sandra Bullock: Though she hasn't been seen much on the big screen, she's still earning from 2009's The Blind Side. Her estimated earnings: $25 million.
  3. Angelina Jolie: She's another one who earns millions even when she's not starring in a lot of current movies, thanks to residuals and endorsement deals. Her estimated earnings: $20 million.
  4. Charlize Theron: After Young Adult, Snow White and the Huntsman, and Prometheus, Theron is experiencing a bonafide resurgence. Her estimated earnings: $18 million.
Click for the top 10. (More Kristen Stewart stories.)

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