Naomi Watts-Put Your Money on Her!

Reuters had reported that Australian actress Naomi Watts, who starred in “The Ring,” King Kong,” and “Eastern Promises,” is the actress who provides the best return for a film studio, according to a list by Forbes.com.

With cash-strapped studios looking for return on their investments, Forbes.com compiled a list of the 10 actresses who provide the best bang for their buck.

They found actresses who commanded the highest prices, like Angelina Jolie who topped Forbes’ list of the best paid actresses after banking US$27 million (RM92 million) in a year, were outranked by those earning around US$5 million and under for a film.

Watts, 41, topped the list after the analysis found she helped the box office make an estimated US$44 for every $1 she was paid for her last three major films.

Jennifer Connelly, star of ““Blood Diamond” and “He’s Just Not That Into You,” came second with her films earning about US$41 for each dollar she was paid and Rachel McAdams, of “The Notebook” and this year’s “The Time Traveler’s Wife,” came third with US$30 for every US$1 earned.

Fourth was Natalie Portman of the new “Star Wars” movies and “The Other Boleyn Girl” with her films making US$28 for every US$1 she was paid followed by Meryl Streep who made the top five due to the massive box office success of last year’s “Mamma Mia,” earning US$27 for every US$1 paid.

Rounding out the 10 were Jennifer Aniston (US$26 per US$1) while films by Halle Berry, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, and Hilary Swank all made US$23 for every dollar they earned.

Forbes.com said it compiled its list by looking at the 100 biggest stars in Hollywood. To qualify each actress had to have starred in at least three movies in the past five years that opened in more than 500 theatres.

They looked at the star’s estimated earnings, each movie’s estimated budget, and box office, DVD and television earnings to figure out an operating income for each movie.