€26m jackpot for Dany Boon in 2008

by Fabien Lemercier

27/02/2009 - Having decided not to take part in this evening’s 2009 Cesar Awards ceremony (see news) – for which his film Welcome to the Sticks [trailer] received just one nomination (for Best Original Screenplay) – Dany Boon can console himself with the unofficial title of highest-paid French actor of 2008, according to the annual rankings by daily newspaper Le Figaro.

With earnings estimated at a minimum €26m, Boon reaches income heights never before seen in Europe. This true jackpot was netted with one film (which he co-produced), thanks to €1.35m in accrued fees as actor, director and screenwriter, as well as numerous profit-sharing clauses, in particular for French admissions, international sales and remake rights (bought by Italy as well as Will Smith’s company for the US).

Gérard Depardieu is in second place (€3.54m for eight films), followed by Daniel Auteuil (€3.5m for three films), Vincent Cassel (€2m for the Public Enemy Number One diptych) and Jean Reno (€1.8m for Ca$h [trailer]).

In sixth position is Clovis Cornillac (€1.7m), who outstrips Kad Merad (€1.6m), Jean Dujardin (€1.35m for Ca$h), Richard Berry (€1.1m), Patrick Timsit (€1.1m) and Jamel Debbouze (€1m for Let It Rain [trailer]).

Among French actresses, Josiane Balasko leads the way with €1.4m for Client [trailer], which she wrote, directed, acted in and co-produced. Next in line are Catherine Frot (€1m for Mark of an Angel [trailer] and Le crime est notre affaire [trailer]) and Karin Viard (€900,000 for three films).

They are followed by Emmanuelle Béart (€890,000 for three films), Agnès Jaoui (€850,000 for Let It Rain), Nathalie Baye (€805,000), Sylvie Testud (€800,000 thanks mainly to Sagan [trailer]), Alice Taglioni (€700,000), Kristin Scott Thomas (for I’ve Loved You So Long [trailer] and Largo Winch [trailer]) and Aure Atika (€600,000).

(Translated from French)