Gender and age play role in deciding America’s favorite movie stars

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Gender and age appear to play a role in deciding a favorite in America’s favorite movie stars..

Clint Eastwood is number one among men, while women choose Julia Roberts. Despite dropping overall, Johnny Depp is the favorite among Echo Boomers (ages 18 to 29). Gen Xers (ages 30 to 41) cite Tom Hanks as their favorite, while Baby Boomers (ages 42 to 60) go for someone who is no longer with us - John Wayne. Matures (ages 61 and over) choose Julia Roberts as their favorite.

Hollywood movie star Denzel Washington returns to the list of America's favorite movie stars in dramatic fashion, taking the number one position after dropping off the top ten list in 2005. Dropping from number one to number two is Tom Hanks, while movie legend John Wayne remains in third place. Tough guy Clint Eastwood jumps up two spots to fourth place.

These are the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 1,147 U.S. adults surveyed online by Harris Interactive(R) between December 12 and 18, 2006.

Will Smith also joins the list this year, perhaps due to the recent success of his film, The Pursuit of Happyness. Smith not only joins the top ten for the first time, but does so tied for fifth place. While all the other stars are the same, they have changed places within the top ten. Some of these changes include:

  - Harrison Ford is the biggest mover as he drops seven places from tied for #3 to #10. This excludes him from the top five for the first time since 1997;

 - Julia Roberts is tied for #5, a spot held alone in 2005. She is still alone in one regard - this Pretty Woman is the only female to appear in the top ten;

 - Johnny Depp drops five spots on the list.  In 2005, he was #2 and this time out he is tied for #7.  Also tied for #7 is Mel Gibson, who previously held the spot alone;

 - George Clooney drops one spot, from #8 to #9.

Political ideology also appears to be a factor in choosing a favorite movie star. Conservatives pick Tom Hanks and John Wayne as their favorites, while liberals and moderates both choose Denzel Washington. Additionally, region is another factor in picking a favorite. Easterners pick Clint Eastwood as their favorite, while those in the West choose Will Smith. Southerners go with the number one choice overall and cite Denzel Washington as their favorite actor, while Mid-Westerners think outside the box and choose Brad Pitt, who comes in at #14 overall.

                                 TABLE 1

                           FAVORITE MOVIE STAR

                    "Who is your favorite movie star?"

                           Unprompted responses

  Base: All adults

 

            1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

  Denzel

   Washington  *    4    8   10   10    *   =7    8    7    9    6    *    1

  Tom Hanks    5    6    7    *    *   =5    6    2    1    4    1    1    2

  John Wayne   2    1    2    4    2    2    2    6    6    7    7   =3    3

  Clint

   Eastwood    1    2    4    1   =4    4    5    7    8    8    8    6    4

  Will Smith   *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *   =5

  Julia

   Roberts     *    *    *    *    *    8    4    1    3    2    3    5   =5

  Johnny Depp  *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *   10    4    2   =7

  Mel Gibson   3    3    1    2    3    3    3    4    2    1    2    7   =7

  George

   Clooney     *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *   10    8    9

  Harrison

   Ford        4    *    *    5    1    1    1    3    4   =5    5   =3   10

 

  * Not in top 10.

  "=" prior to a number indicates a tie

 

                      DROPPED OUT OF TOP 10 IN 2006

        Sean Connery (#9 in 2005) and Sandra Bullock (#10 in 2005)

 

 

                                 TABLE 2

              WHICH MOVIE STAR IS #1 AMONG DIFFERENT GROUPS?

 

  Bases/Groups as listed below:               Favorite Movie Star

 

  Men                                            Clint Eastwood

  Women                                          Julia Roberts

 

  Conservatives                            Tom Hanks/John Wayne (tie)

  Liberals                                     Denzel Washington

  Moderates                                    Denzel Washington

 

  Echo Boomers (18-29)                            Johnny Depp

  Gen X (30-41)                                    Tom Hanks

  Baby Boomers (42-60)                             John Wayne

  Matures (61+)                                  Julia Roberts

 

  East                                           Clint Eastwood

  Midwest                                          Brad Pitt

  South                                        Denzel Washington

  West                                             Will Smith