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Page last updated at 16:40 GMT, Saturday, 3 January 2009

Will Smith biggest at box office

Will Smith
Smith starred in the summer blockbuster Hancock

Will Smith has been voted the top money-making movie star of 2008 in an annual poll of US cinema owners and film buyers.

Smith, star of Hancock, is only the second African-American actor after Sidney Poitier to top the Quigley poll, which has been running for 76 years.

Robert Downey Jr came second, Christian Bale third and Shia LaBeouf fourth. All are newcomers to the list.

Meanwhile 2007's winner Johnny Depp was nowhere to be seen.

Anne Hathaway - recently nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award and a Golden Globe for Rachel Getting Married - was named a star of tomorrow as was Chris Pine, who will play Captain Kirk in 2009's Star Trek movie.

Tom Cruise did not make the top 10 for 2008 despite being voted number one seven times since 1983.

The Quigley Poll has been conducted since 1932 by the publishers of the International Motion Picture Almanac.

It asks cinema owners and film buyers to vote for the 10 stars they believe generated the most box office revenue during the year.

Will Smith was also the highest-paid actor in Hollywood of 2007-2008, said US business magazine Forbes in July.

The I Am Legend star earned $80m (£54.8m) - but Dodgeball star Vince Vaughn proved the best value for money, raking in $14.73 for every dollar he was paid.

Cameron Diaz led the ladies' charge by topping the highest-grossing actress table with takings of $50m (£34.2m).

The magazine pulled together lists of Hollywood's big earners for its special Entertainment All Stars issue.

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SEE ALSO
Smith tops Hollywood earner list
24 Jul 08 |  Entertainment
Smith 'to play pharoah' in movie
08 Sep 08 |  Entertainment
Smith and son to make Karate Kid
11 Nov 08 |  Entertainment
Hancock dominates UK box office
08 Jul 08 |  Entertainment
Smith builds links with Bollywood
23 Feb 06 |  Entertainment
Smith thrills at Hancock premiere
19 Jun 08 |  Entertainment

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