Simpsons star gives $10m to Scientology

A mischievous yellow cartoon character is a bigger patron of the Church of Scientology than Tom Cruise. Longtime Scientologist Nancy Cartwright - the voice of Homer Simpson's son Bart on The Simpsons - last year gave the church $10m to help spread the word of founder L Ron Hubbard. It was all part of Scientology's Global Salvage effort, which aims to "de-aberrate" Earth - meaning to rid mankind of psychology ills and other "aberrant" behaviour.

Cartwright, 50, forked out twice as much as Cruise, Scientology's most prominent member, who gave $5m over four years. In acknowledgment of her large gift, which is reportedly twice her annual salary from The Simpsons, Cartwright was awarded Scientology's Patron Laureate Award at a ceremony in Florida last summer.

The voice actress tops the list of celebrity benefactors who help fund the church. According to Scientology magazine Impact, Kirstie Alley, the former Cheers actress, gave $5m last year, while John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston gave $1m each and Elvis's ex, Priscilla Presley, made a donation of $50,000. All these celebrity donors were honoured at the Florida ceremony, according to the publication.

Cartwright, who is 'Honorary Mayor' of Northridge, a neighborhood in northwest Los Angeles, has been a member of the Church of Scientology since 1989, about the same time that Cruise joined. Cartwright also supports charitable organisations such as the Way to Happiness Foundation and the World Literary Crusade, which are linked to the Church of Scientology. With The Simpsons Movie grossing approximately $526m worldwide since its release last July, she should be well placed to give generously again this year.