Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Kristen Stewart Tops List of Highest-Paid Actresses


Studios are notoriously stingy when it comes to paying young actors for the first film in a planned franchise. Forget about the $10 million they would have had to shell out to get a big name an up-and-comer is lucky to get $800,000.

That changes dramatically when it comes to the third and fourth films in a series. Suddenly, the star becomes indispensable and the studio has to pay up. And that's why Kristen Stewart has vaulted to the top of Forbes' annual list of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood.

At this point, could anyone else play Bella Swan in "Twilight"? Probably not; if the studio tried to switch in another actress, fans would revolt. So for the last two "Twilight" films, Stewart has been able to demand an estimated $12.5 million per film, plus a share of the profits.

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Her two co-stars, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, get paid the same, but Stewart earned more than them this year because of "Snow White and the Huntsman." Stewart's earnings between May 2011 and May 2012 totaled $34.5 million, helping her rank 43rd on our Celebrity 100 list. (The list measures a combination of money and fame.)
At 22, Stewart is the youngest woman on our list by 16 years. The next youngest is Kristen Wiig who is 38. Last year Stewart ranked 5th on our list of the Highest-Paid Actresses tied with Julia Roberts. This year Roberts ranked 6th.

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Women are still paid less than men in the movie business. The 10 actresses who make up our list earned a total $200 million compared to the $361 million brought in by our top 10 men.


 
To determine who the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood are, we considered upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work. We talked to manager, agents, lawyers and other in-the-know folks to come up with our estimates. We did not deduct for things like agent fees or the expenses related to being a celebrity.

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Ranking second on our list is Cameron Diaz. Her recent comedy "Bad Teacher" was a surprise hit, bringing in $216 million at the global box office. That's a decent haul under any circumstance but an especially good result for "Bad Teacher," which cost only $20 million to make. Diaz had a deal to take home a nice chunk of the film's profits, which were substantial.

Add that to her earnings for films like "What to Expect" and "The Green Hornet," and we estimate Diaz earned $34 million between May 2011 and May 2012.

Kristen Stewart - $34.5 Million
At the young age of 22 Stewart earned more than any other actress between May 2011 and May 2012. Most of that money came from "Twilight" where Stewart stars as Bella Swan. But she also earned big buck for starring in "Snow White and the Huntsman."

Cameron Diaz - $34 Million
Diaz' 2011 film "Bad Teacher" was a quiet hit. It earned $216 million on a tiny budget of $20 million. That massive profit helped Diaz earn $34 million between May 2011 and May 2012. The funny lady took a smaller upfront on the film in exchange for a large share of the profits.

Sandra Bullock - $25 Million
Bullock's most recent film, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," was not a box office hit but the actress is still in demand. Her 2009 film, "The Blind Side" was the kind of massive hit studios dream about. Bullock earned $25 million during our time frame thanks to money she still brings home from "The Blind Side" and the upcoming big-budget sci-fi flick, "Gravity."

Angelina Jolie - $20 Million
Even when she's not starring in a big studio flick, Jolie still earns millions from residuals and endorsement deals for companies like Louis Vuitton. Jolie also attracts plenty of attention wherever she goes.

Charlize Theron - $18 Million
Theron is in the middle of a major career surge that kicked off with the 2011 movie "Young Adult." The film might not have earned a lot of money (it brought in only $23 million) but it gave Theron the kind of buzz she hasn't had in several years. Following up with "Snow White and the Huntsman" and "Prometheus" didn't hurt. Theron is also the high-profile face of Dior.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Christina Aguilera's Best and Worst Looks on 'The Voice'

Christina Aguilera's Best and Worst Looks on 'The Voice'
"The Voice" coach has people talking about the attention-grabbing ensembles she's been wearing on the show.Suzy Byrne, Yahoo! TV

Christina Aguilera put on quite a show Monday night when she took the stage to perform on "The Voice." The coach put her famous curves on display in this bedazzled corset bodysuit, fishnet stockings and Christian Louboutin platforms, an outfit that immediately got people talking.




Monday, April 9, 2012

Langkawi Sky Bridge in Malaysia

It's not a bridge to the sky, but it's not far from the idea! The Langkawi sky-bridge in Malaysia is suspended at 700 metres above sea level and spans 125 across the mountains,offering magnificent views of the Andaman Sea and Thailand's Tarutao Island. It's set apart from other bridges by its curves that provide different perspectives of the landscapes. Here's one of the most spectacular bridges in the world that delivers quite a pump of adrenaline.














Sunday, April 8, 2012

Titanic 100 year anniversary

Relatives of some who died on the Titanic are on a voyage to the North Atlantic site where the liner sank, to mark 100 years since the disaster.

MS Balmoral has left Southampton docks, retracing the route of the ill-fated cruise liner's maiden voyage.

The ship, carrying 1,309 passengers - the same number as were on the Titanic - is due to reach the wreck site next weekend for a memorial ceremony.

The Titanic hit an iceberg on 15 April 1912 and sank, killing about 1,500.

The Balmoral left England's south coast shortly after 14:45 GMT and will follow the Titanic's exact route - via Cherbourg in north-west France and Cobh on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland - to the spot where the liner sank.

Passengers will gather for a service to be held at 02:20 GMT next Sunday - 15 April - to mark the moment of the sinking.

Some relatives were bringing wreaths of flowers and family artefacts in memory of those who died.

Passengers making the journey, who come from more than 20 countries, include relatives of survivors, authors, historians and people who are fascinated by the Titanic story.

They will eat meals from the Titanic's original menu and attend lectures given by historians and experts.

Philip Littlejohn, grandson of survivor Alexander James Littlejohn and the only Titanic relative to have made the dive to the wreck site, said: "I'm sure my grandfather, a 1st Class Steward on RMS Titanic, would be proud to know his story will be shared with the passengers on this historic cruise.

"It will be an emotional moment when we are over the wreck site, where I dived in 2001, and where my grandfather left Titanic rowing Lifeboat 13."

Jane Allen, whose great uncle Tom Pears died in the disaster, is among passengers who have paid up to £6,000 ($9,000) to join the commemorative voyage.

"I don't think it's ghoulish or macabre at all," said Mrs Allen, from Devon.

"I've been to the World War II and I cemeteries in various places across the world. I think it's always important to remember."






Underground Lake: The Inner Beauty of Earth

Underground Lake: The Inner Beauty of Earth - An underground lake or a subterranean lake is a lake which is formed under the surface of the Earth's crust. Such a lake may be associated with caves, aquifers, or springs. They are typically very low in salinity.