Reese takes top spot in Hollywood pay league

Although her most recent film, Rendition - on the set of which she met her new boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal - was a flop in America, actress Reese Witherspoon turns out to be Number One in the Hollywood Reporter's annual list of the highest-paid actresses. The 31-year-old Oscar winner (for Walk The Line in 2006) commands $15m to $20m a movie.

Angelina Jolie, who earns the same money, came second, and Cameron Diaz was third. Nicole Kidman dropped to fourth place, two spots lower than last year, with an asking price of up to $15m a film.

In the same pay league are Renee Zellweger, Sandra Bullock and Julia Roberts while the final three in the Top Ten - Drew Barrymore, Jodie Foster and Halle Berry - have to make do with a lowly $10m a movie.