At one point during her acceptance speech for best actress at the recent Academy Awards, Frances McDormand asked all of the female nominees across all categories to stand. To spur the audience into action she addressed movie legend Meryl Streep: “Meryl, if you do it, everybody else will.”

This small moment helped illustrate the respect and authority of one Hollywood figure. No doubt, Streep has maintained an air of authority and propriety since her rise to superstardom in the late 70s and early 80s. Yet is she the most powerful woman in entertainment?

To identify the person who holds that honor, 24/7 Wall St. has created a list of the most powerful women in entertainment. We have created an index based on a number of metrics, including net worth and online popularity. The resulting list also includes relevant data such as the number of filmed roles each has performed.

Click here to see the most powerful women in entertainment.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

50. Frances McDormand
> Acting credits: 63
> Net worth: $30 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,408,654
> Most recent appearance: Isle of Dogs (2018)

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49. Sigourney Weaver
> Acting credits: 83
> Net worth: $50 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 1,988,691
> Most recent appearance: Doc Martin (2015-2017)

48. Sarah Jessica Parker
> Acting credits: 62
> Net worth: $100 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,274,871
> Most recent appearance: Divorce (2016-2018)

47. Elizabeth Banks
> Acting credits: 84
> Net worth: $30 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,362,627
> Most recent appearance: Pitch Perfect 3 (2017)

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46. Whoopi Goldberg
> Acting credits: 171
> Net worth: $45 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,130,610
> Most recent appearance: Sensitive Men (2018)

45. Sally Field
> Acting credits: 64
> Net worth: $55 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,042,485
> Most recent appearance: Little Evil (2017)

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44. Emma Stone
> Acting credits: 42
> Net worth: $28 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 4,091,847
> Most recent appearance: Battle of the Sexes (2017)

43. Sharon Stone
> Acting credits: 135
> Net worth: $60 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 1,971,715
> Most recent appearance: Mosaic (2017-2018)

42. Sofía Vergara
> Acting credits: 42
> Net worth: $140 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,717,671
> Most recent appearance: Modern Family (2009-2019)

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41. Kristen Stewart
> Acting credits: 50
> Net worth: $70 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,384,800
> Most recent appearance: Lizzie (2018)

40. Judi Dench
> Acting credits: 122
> Net worth: $35 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,068,193
> Most recent appearance: Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

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39. Allison Janney
> Acting credits: 120
> Net worth: $4 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,476,108
> Most recent appearance: Break a Hip (2015-2018)

38. Gwyneth Paltrow
> Acting credits: 56
> Net worth: $60 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,903,921
> Most recent appearance: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

37. Anne Hathaway
> Acting credits: 45
> Net worth: $35 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,012,996
> Most recent appearance: Colossal (2016)

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36. Kirsten Dunst
> Acting credits: 80
> Net worth: $25 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,233,879
> Most recent appearance: Drunk History (2018)

35. Winona Ryder
> Acting credits: 63
> Net worth: $18 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 4,911,912
> Most recent appearance: Stranger Things (2016-2019)

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34. Uma Thurman
> Acting credits: 63
> Net worth: $45 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,618,545
> Most recent appearance: Imposters (2017)

33. Helen Mirren
> Acting credits: 130
> Net worth: $50 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,512,288
> Most recent appearance: Winchester (2018)

32. Halle Berry
> Acting credits: 52
> Net worth: $80 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,078,400
> Most recent appearance: Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)

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31. Amy Adams
> Acting credits: 57
> Net worth: $60 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,825,877
> Most recent appearance: Sharp Objects (2018)

30. Helena Bonham Carter
> Acting credits: 94
> Net worth: $30 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,375,054
> Most recent appearance: The Crown (2018)

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29. Kate Winslet
> Acting credits: 55
> Net worth: $45 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,489,641
> Most recent appearance: Wonder Wheel (2017)

28. Salma Hayek
> Acting credits: 75
> Net worth: $85 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,656,717
> Most recent appearance: The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017)

27. Michelle Pfeiffer
> Acting credits: 61
> Net worth: $80 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,143,388
> Most recent appearance: Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

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26. Julianne Moore
> Acting credits: 89
> Net worth: $50 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,043,085
> Most recent appearance: Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)

25. Drew Barrymore
> Acting credits: 74
> Net worth: $125 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,591,229
> Most recent appearance: Santa Clarita Diet (2017-2018)

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24. Courteney Cox
> Acting credits: 63
> Net worth: $120 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,524,514
> Most recent appearance: Drunk History (2014-2016)

23. Susan Sarandon
> Acting credits: 151
> Net worth: $50 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,485,333
> Most recent appearance: Jay-Z: Legacy (2017)

22. Keira Knightley
> Acting credits: 56
> Net worth: $60 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,786,942
> Most recent appearance: Colette (2018)

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21. Robin Wright
> Acting credits: 54
> Net worth: $65 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 4,010,004
> Most recent appearance: House of Cards (2013-2018)

20. Demi Moore
> Acting credits: 60
> Net worth: $150 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,175,076
> Most recent appearance: Empire (2017)

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19. Mila Kunis
> Acting credits: 63
> Net worth: $55 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 6,129,519
> Most recent appearance: Family Guy (1999-2018)

18. Jodie Foster
> Acting credits: 80
> Net worth: $100 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,822,110
> Most recent appearance: Conan (2016)

17. Meryl Streep
> Acting credits: 81
> Net worth: $90 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,946,087
> Most recent appearance: Big Little Lies (2018)

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16. Miley Cyrus
> Acting credits: 54
> Net worth: $160 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 5,534,904
> Most recent appearance: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

15. Reese Witherspoon
> Acting credits: 58
> Net worth: $120 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 5,114,322
> Most recent appearance: Big Little Lies (2017-2019)

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14. Emma Watson
> Acting credits: 21
> Net worth: $80 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 6,168,090
> Most recent appearance: The Circle (2017)

13. Cate Blanchett
> Acting credits: 69
> Net worth: $85 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,371,590
> Most recent appearance: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

12. Cameron Diaz
> Acting credits: 54
> Net worth: $140 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,505,497
> Most recent appearance: Annie (2014)

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11. Natalie Portman
> Acting credits: 59
> Net worth: $60 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 4,622,870
> Most recent appearance: Annihilation (2018)

10. Charlize Theron
> Acting credits: 54
> Net worth: $130 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 5,737,569
> Most recent appearance: Gringo (2018)

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9. Nicole Kidman
> Acting credits: 81
> Net worth: $130 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 5,222,137
> Most recent appearance: Big Little Lies (2017-2019)

8. Jennifer Lawrence
> Acting credits: 30
> Net worth: $120 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 6,720,818
> Most recent appearance: Red Sparrow (2018)

7. Sandra Bullock
> Acting credits: 57
> Net worth: $200 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 3,594,281
> Most recent appearance: Our Brand Is Crisis (2015)

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6. Julia Roberts
> Acting credits: 60
> Net worth: $190 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 4,223,610
> Most recent appearance: Homecoming (2018)

5. Gal Gadot
> Acting credits: 24
> Net worth: $8 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 14,861,564
> Most recent appearance: Justice League (2017)

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4. Angelina Jolie
> Acting credits: 48
> Net worth: $160 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 5,336,926
> Most recent appearance: Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)

3. Scarlett Johansson
> Acting credits: 61
> Net worth: $100 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 6,348,413
> Most recent appearance: Isle of Dogs (2018)

2. Jessica Alba
> Acting credits: 60
> Net worth: $350 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 2,988,059
> Most recent appearance: El Camino Christmas (2017)

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1. Jennifer Aniston
> Acting credits: 61
> Net worth: $220 million
> Yearly Wikipedia page views: 7,239,777
> Most recent appearance: The Yellow Birds (2017)

As is the case in so many aspects of life, money is one determinant of influence. The majority of women on our list can ask for and be paid huge sums of money for their talents — or at least they were able to at some point in their careers. Forty-eight of the actors are worth $10 million or more. Of those, 18 are worth $100 million or more, including nine of the top 10 most powerful women.

Most of the actors on the list acquired their wealth through a steady body of work. Among the most prolific are Whoopi Goldberg, who has 171 acting credits to her name; Susan Sarandon, who has 151; and Sharon Stone, who has 135. The entertainer with the fewest credits is 27-year old Emma Watson, who has so far accumulated 21 acting credits.

While it always takes some amount of time in the industry to gather power, fame, and fortune, not all have been in the limelight for long. Gal Gadot – who solidified her place as one of Hollywood’s most in demand actors with her recent role as Wonder Woman – has only been working for 11 years. Jennifer Lawrence has only been at it for one year longer.

At the other end of the spectrum is Judi Dench – who appeared on the television series “Hilda Lessways” in 1959 – and Sally Field – who had an uncredited role in 1962’s “Moon Pilot” and appeared on the TV series “Gidget” four years later.

To determine the most powerful women in entertainment, 24/7 Wall St. created a composite index score based on IMDb (Internet Movie Database) popularity, acting credits, seniority (the number of years the actor has been working), net worth, and annual Wikipedia page views. The index for IMDb popularity was created based on the votes an actor received for every acting credit on IMDb. If an actor was in an episode of TV, and the individual TV episode has an individual rating and vote count, that was incorporated into the Index. If only the TV show as a whole has a rating and vote count, then the actor was awarded votes based on the total votes the TV show received divided by the total number of appearances in the TV show. If the actor is one of the leads in a movie or TV episode, they received a full weight, otherwise they received a half weight. Seniority and acting credits are also from IMDb. Wikipedia page views in the past year (as of March 19, 2018) were determined by Wikimedia Pageviews Analysis tool, and the net worth of each actor is from Celebrity Net Worth.com.

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