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Reinvention & Money : Careers & Work

Celeb Careers That Keep Getting Hotter

Many years have passed since these leading ladies booked their first blockbusters—and today, their careers are hotter than ever. Here, 11 actresses who are still reigning queens at the box office*

 

*Lifetime grosses have been adjusted for ticket price inflation, courtesy of IMDB/Box Office Mojo

by Samantha Lear

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Gwyneth Paltrow

September 1995

The Hit: Seven

Gross: $179,785,800
AP Images

May 2010

The Hit: Iron Man 2

Gross: $307,717,400

Years Passed: 15

% Increase: 71
Andrew Evans / PR Photos

Sandra Bullock

June 1994

The Hit: Speed

Gross: $227,122,700
Amazon

November 2009

The Hit: The Blind Side

Gross: $260,745,400

Years Passed: 15

% Increase: 15
Andrew Evans / PR Photos

Halle Berry

July 1992

The Hit:Boomerang

Gross: $132,171,200
Amazon

May 2006

The Hit: X-Men: The Last Stand

Gross: $280,161,500

Years Passed: 14

% Increase: 112
Andrew Evans / PR Photos

Charlize Theron

December 1999

The Hit: The Cider House Rules

Gross: $83,830,500
Amazon

July 2008

The Hit: Hancock

Gross: $248,582,100

Years Passed:

% Increase: 197
Andrew Evans / PR Photos

Penelope Cruz

Dec 2001

The Hit: Vanilla Sky

Gross: $137,566,900
Amazon

May 2011

The Hit: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Gross: $234,332,400

Years Passed: 10

% Increase: 70
Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

Sigourney Weaver

June 1984

The Hit: Ghostbusters

Gross: $553,820,700
Sony Pictures

December 2009

The Hit: Avatar

Gross: $761,508,800

Years Passed: 15

% Increase: 38
Tina Gill / PR Photos

Rachel McAdams

June 2004

The Hit: The Notebook

Gross: $102,132,700
New Line Cinema

February 2012

The Hit: The Vow

Gross: $123,041,900

Years Passed: 8

% Increase: 20
Amazon

Winona Ryder

December 1990

The Hit: Edward Scissorhands

Gross: $104,667,800
Amazon

December 2010

The Hit: Black Swan

Gross: $105,820,300

Years Passed: 20

% Increase: 1.1
Image courtesy of Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Cate Blanchett

December 1999

The Hit: The Talented Mr. Ripley

Gross: $120,528,700
AP Images

December 2008

The Hit: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Gross: $139,052,600

Years Passed: 9

% Increase: 15
Janet Mayer / PR Photos

Helen Mirren

April 1981

The Hit: Excalibur

Gross: $98,487,400
Amazon

December 2007

The Hit: National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Gross: $244,081,000

Years Passed: 16

% Increase: 147
Photo courtesy of Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Anne Hathaway

August 2001

The Hit: The Princess Diaries

Gross: $149,746,200
Amazon

March 2010

The Hit: Alice in Wonderland

Gross: $329,146,700

Years Passed: 9

% Increase: 119

 

 

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Landmark / PR Photos
First Published April 2, 2012

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