Past and present Mrs Pitt ranked the top-earning actresses

A ranking of the top-earning actresses has put Angelina Jolie at the top, with a figure of $27 million earned in the past year, while Nicole Kidman has slipped to $12 million from previous years.

According to Forbes magazine, Jolie raked in most of her dollars on Wanted, an action film that saw her make more in the past year than husband Brad Pitt (who earned $25 million). Salt also brought top dollar for the action star and mother of six.

"Much of Angelina’s earnings came from her share of the profits on Wanted, but she also scored a fat upfront check for Salt, an action film originally slated to star Tom Cruise, in which Jolie plays a CIA agent who is accused of being a Russian spy," Forbes said.

Pitt’s former wife Jennifer Aniston followed Jolie, earning most from the romantic comedy Marley and Me and her upcoming film The Baster about a woman who tries to get pregnant by artificial insemination.

Forbes said: "Aniston also still earns money from [reruns of TV series] Friends and she gets a nice paycheck shilling for Glaceau’s SmartWater."

Veteran Meryl Streep came in at No. 3 with $24 million from Mamma Mia.

Sarah Jessica Parker ranked fourth with $23 million in earnings following the movie version of TV series Sex and the City. Another Sex movie is in the works. Cameron Diaz came in fifth, banking $20 million. Nicole Kidman, Australia’s top-earning actress, ranked with Drew Barrymore at $12 million earned between June 2007 and June 2008. Renee Zellweger rounded out the top 10 at $10 million.

Forbes said: "As is still typical for Hollywood, our actresses earned significantly less than their male counterparts." The magazine pointed out that the top-earning actor, Harrison Ford, earned $65 million.

Source: Splash News