One thing most of the actresses on this list have in common is that they did not carry the films on their own. In Hollywood, it’s still rare for a woman to be the main star. For the most part, women are co-stars or they appear in ensemble films like He’s Just Not That Into You, which was a surprise hit in February, earning $177 million at the box office worldwide.
That film’s success helped Jennifer Connelly take second place on our list. For every dollar Connelly was paid, her films earned an average of $41.
In third place is Rachel McAdams. The young actress is one of the few to really carry a movie, 2005′s Red Eye, which also featured Cillian Murphy. McAdams has scored by appearing in relatively low-budget movies (like Red Eye and 2004′s The Notebook) that have done well at the box office, though none have been massive hits. For every dollar McAdams was paid, her films earned an average of $30.