Crowe and Kidman 'most overpaid actors'

Oscar-winners Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman have been named the "most overpaid" actors in Hollywood.

Crowe topped the Forbes magazine list, which compared stars' salaries with the amount of money their films grossed at the box office.

Gladiator cost £50 million to make and earned £230 million gross income, but the actor's recent films have failed to perform as well.

2005's Cinderella Man and 2006's A Good Year averaged a gross income five times the amount Crowe was paid.

However, American Gangster has proved a success, already making £87 million worldwide at a cost of £50 million.

Fellow Australian Nicole Kidman came second in the list after reportedly being paid £7.5 million for £100 million blockbuster The Golden Compass. The film made just £13 million in its opening weekend in the US, despite topping the box office chart both there and in the UK.

Kidman's films gross an average of eight times what she is paid, while Angelina Jolie, who is paid less, has returned an average of fifteen times her earnings in her last three movies.

Jim Carrey and Will Ferrell finished third and fourth in the list, with Jennifer Lopez and Adam Sandler also making an appearance.