Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jennifer Lawrence tops Forbes’ list of highest-paid actresses

In this 2015 file photo, actress Jennifer Lawrence attends a special screening of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2” at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square in New York. (Evan Agostini / Associated Press)
By Nardine Saad Los Angeles Times

Despite a drop in earnings this year, Jennifer Lawrence has been named the world’s highest-paid actress for the second year in a row.

“The Hunger Games” headliner and “X-Men: Apocalypse” star brought in an estimated $46 million in the last 12 months, according to Forbes magazine, which compiles the annual list of moneymakers.

Those pretty pennies were largely due to profits from “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2,” the final installment of the blockbuster franchise that hit theaters in November. The finale grossed more than $653.4 million worldwide but was the lowest-earning of the four films. Another boon to Lawrence’s pre-tax earnings came from a massive upfront fee for her upcoming sci-fi flick “Passengers,” Forbes said.

Last year the Oscar winner topped Forbes’ list with an estimated $52 million – that after she spent two years in the No. 2 spot on the U.S.-only lists.

The gender pay gap has been a hot button issue in Hollywood and Lawrence’s wages in particular were further scrutinized when the actress lambasted the industry in a scathing essay for Lena Dunham’s Lenny newsletter in October 2015.

“Ghostbusters” star Melissa McCarthy landed in the No. 2 spot this year, earning $33 million, the magazine said. The 46-year-old funnywoman is up from last year’s $23 million estimation and recorded her highest earnings to date thanks to a reported eight-figure paycheck from Columbia Pictures’ all-female reboot that hit theaters in July.

The earnings list also includes Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Charlize Theron, Amy Adams, Julia Roberts, Mila Kunis and Chinese film star Fan Bingbing and Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone.

Forbes will release its list of highest-paid actors on Thursday.