Kristin Stewart Hollywood’s highest-paid actress

Money maker ... 22-year-old Kristin Stewart beat out more established names, including Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep to top Forbes’ list of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses. Photo: Reuters

At just 22 years of age, Twilight starlet Kristin Stewart has topped Forbes’ list of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses.

Stewart, who beat out Academy Award winners including Sandra Bullock, Charlize Theron and Meryl Streep, earned $US34.5 million between May 2011 and May 2012 to secure her place at the top of the Hollywood tree.

Hot on the youngsters heels is Cameron Diaz, who according to Forbes took home $US34 million thanks to the success of her 2011 film Bad Teacher, where she took a punt on a smaller upfront fee in return for a slice for the film’s profits – a decision that clearly paid off.

After Diaz, there’s a big drop back to Sandra Bullock in third with $US25 million, followed by Angelina Jolie in fourth with $US20 million and Charlize Theron in fifth with $US18 million.

But while some of the women on the list pulled down big bucks, Forbes notes that the top 10’s combined earnings of $US200 million is well below the $US361 million Hollywood’s highest-paid men took home.

Forbes considered upfront pay, profit share, residuals, endorsements and advertising work using estimates from managers, agents and other film-industry figures to come up with the list.

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