Will Smith leads Forbes star bankability list

US actor Will Smith poses during a photocall to promote his movie "Seven Pounds" in Berlin, January 6, 2009.

Will Smith was named Hollywood's most bankable star in a survey of movie industry professionals released on Tuesday by Forbes.com, the Web site of financial magazine Forbes.

Smith, who received a perfect 10 on the survey, was followed on the Forbes list by Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio and Hollywood supercouple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who were all tied with a score of 9.89.

John Burman, special projects director for Forbes Media, said Smith, who won fame on 1990s television sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," can star in any movie genre.

"He can move from doing the pop film to an 'Ali' to a 'Seven Pounds' to 'The Pursuit of Happyness,' so he's able to play in all worlds and I think people just like watching him on screen," Burman said.

For its first-ever "Star Currency" list, measuring the financial clout of Hollywood stars to get movie projects going, Forbes surveyed more than 150 entertainment industry professionals, including producers and directors.

The stars were ranked on ability to attract financing for a project, box office success, appeal to different audience demographics and other factors.

The Philadelphia-born Smith's latest movie "Seven Pounds" was released on December 19 and has made more than $141.6 million worldwide. He also starred in the 2008 summer hit "Hancock," which made more than $624.4 million worldwide.

Most of the stars on Forbes' top 100 Star Currency list are over 35, including 78-year-old "Gran Torino" star Clint Eastwood at No. 20.

The top 20-something actor was "Transformers" star Shia LaBeouf at No. 33, followed by "The Duchess" star Keira Knightley at No. 42.

Actors need time to establish a star "brand," Burman said.

Also, some stars have international box office appeal that more than compensates for modest U.S. and Canada ticket sales.

The 45-year-old Pitt's 2004 movie "Troy," for example, made $133.4 million in the U.S. and Canada, but $364 million internationally. His 2006 movie "Babel" made $101 million internationally, nearly three times U.S. and Canada totals.

"He's certainly strong in the U.S., but you see the global reach of him," Burman said.

Will Smith's Mandela doubts

Actor Will Smith (R) takes a photograph with Carolina Panthers Steve Smith during the premiere of his movie "Seven Pounds" in Charlotte, North Carolina December 11, 2008.

Will Smith doesn't think he is "man enough" to play Nelson Mandela in a movie.

The 40-year-old actor - who previously portrayed Muhammad Ali in 2001 movie 'Ali' - has been touted to portray the history-making former South African President on the big screen but is worried he wouldn't be able to do the part justice.

Revealing he is also keen to play soul singer Marvin Gaye in a film, Will added: "I'm not certain I'm actor enough yet. I love both of those, and I need to make sure I'm man enough."

Will - who can next be seen in upcoming drama 'Seven Pounds' - also revealed despite starring in action blockbusters including 'Hancock' and 'I Am Legend', he prefers appearing in films which "push" his acting ability.

He said: "I have to challenge myself and push myself. My only job is to make sure I don't leave anything on the table, that I maximize what a young dude from Philadelphia can do in the world of cinema. There's no telling what I can create at this point."

Will Smith at the premiere of "Seven Pounds"

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Actor Will Smith speaks to the crowd during the premiere of his movie "Seven Pounds" in Charlotte, North Carolina December 11, 2008.

Will Smith: Hollywood's highest paid actor

Will Smith has topped a list of Hollywood's Highest Paid Actors. The "Hancock" actor - who has made 80 million U.S. dollars in the last year - became the first ever actor to have eight consecutive movies break the 100-million-dollar mark at the box office.

Cast member Will Smith kisses the hand of Tatyana Ali at the movie premiere of "Hancock" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California June 30, 2008. Will Smith has topped a list of Hollywood's Highest Paid Actors.

His earnings caused him to shoot to the top of Forbes magazine's list, ahead of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" star Johnny Depp who earned 72 million dollars.

Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers came joint third with earnings of 55 million dollars each, and "Blood Diamond" star Leonardo DiCaprio rounded off the top five after making 45 million dollars last year.

"Die Hard 4.0" actor Bruce Willis proves he still has the potential to be a huge box office star, after coming sixth in the list with earnings of 41 million dollars. He was closely followed by comedian Ben Stiller and "National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets" star Nicolas Cage, who made 40 million dollars and 31 million dollars respectively. The top ten was rounded off by "Old School" funnyman Will Ferrell, who earned 31 million dollars, and Adam Sandler with earnings of 30 million dollars.

The list was compiled by looking at the actors' earnings from June 1, 2007 to June 1, 2008.

Forbes' magazine Hollywood's Highest Paid Actors, full list:

1. Will Smith - 80 million dollars
2. Johnny Depp - 72 million dollars
3. Eddie Murphy - 55 million dollars
4. Mike Myers - 55 million dollars
5. Leonardo DiCaprio - 45 million dollars
6. Bruce Willis - 41 million dollars
7. Ben Stiller - 40 million dollars
8. Nicolas Cage - 31 million dollars
9. Will Ferrell - 31 million dollars
10. Adam Sandler - 30 million dollars

Cast member Will Smith (R) greets fans as he arrives at the movie premiere of "Hancock" at Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California June 30, 2008. The movie opens in the U.S. on July 2.

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith (R) poses with a fan at the movie premiere of "Hancock" at Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California June 30, 2008.

"Hancock" sparks box office fireworks over Independence Day weekend

Sony Pictures' superhero movie "Hancock" sparked the box office fireworks over this Independence Day weekend in the United States, breaking the 100-million-dollar sale mark in its first week of release, preliminary figures released Sunday showed.

Cast members Will Smith (L), Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman (R) pose at the movie premiere of "Hancock" at Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood, California June 30, 2008. The movie opens in the U.S. on July 2.

The Will Smith action film about a down-on-his-luck superhero, opened on Tuesday before the Fourth of July holiday, will take in estimated 107.3 million dollars in North America by the close of business Sunday night, according to box office tracking firm Media By Numbers.

Meanwhile, "Hancock" easily bested Disney-Pixar animation feature "Wall-E" for the weekend-only crown, taking in about 66 million dollars over the three-day period.

Last week's box office leader "Wall-E" is expected to sell impressive 33.4 million dollars this weekend, bringing a two-week total of 128.1 million dollars for the animated robot romance.

Universal's action thriller "Wanted" from Universal was in third place this weekend with estimated 20.6 million dollars in ticket sales, followed by Warner Bros' spy action "Get Smart" and Dream Work Animation's "Kung Fu Panda" with 11.1 million and 7.5 million dollars respectively.

The weekend also saw teen movie adaptation of "An American Girl" book, "Kit Kittredge: All American Girl," sneak in the back door of the top ten. The film starring popular child actress Abigail Breslin was in eighth place with 3.6 million dollars.

Hollywood's overall business slipped for the first time in a month, as the top-selling 12 films took in 158.5 million dollars collectively, down 4 percent from the same period last year, when Dream Work's "Transformers" opened.

Will Smith: It's hard to beat Tom Cruise

Will Smith and Tom Cruise have autograph signing competitions. "Hancock" star Will has revealed he and his close friend Tom always try to outdo each other by spending the most time with their fans on the red carpet.

Will Smith introduces the 46664 concert in honour of Nelson Mandela in Hyde Park, London June 27, 2008.

Will said: "It's hard to beat that dude. He has another gear. He did two-and-a-half hours in France for 'Mission: Impossible' on the red carpet. Now when I go to France, people will say, 'You know, Tom was out here for over two-and-a-half hours.' "

The 39-year-old actor also revealed playing boxing legend Mohammad Ali in 2001 hit 'Ali' inspired him to have more confidence in himself.

Actor Tom Cruise introduces actor Adam Sandler as the recipient of the Generation Award at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles June 1, 2008.

Will - whose performance earned him an Oscar nomination - explained: "When I was doing 'Ali', I realised that he kept saying, 'I'm the greatest, I'm pretty,' to make himself believe it. He doesn't believe it, but he was dealing with racism.

He was reacting to pain and rejection. He said it so much that he started to really believe it. That is what I've tried to do for myself."