Denzel Washington Remains America's Favorite Movie Star

Even Though He Hasn't Made a Movie since 1976, John Wayne Remains
on the List at Number Six
ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(Business Wire)--Whether it was his appearances in American Gangster or The Great
Debaters, Denzel Washington scores the top position as America's
favorite movie star for the second year in a row on The Harris Poll's
annual favorite movie star list. In second place, also for the second
year in a row, is Charlie Wilson's War, or rather, Tom Hanks. Perhaps
due to the success of the final Pirates of the Caribbean or his
singing skills in Sweeney Todd, Johnny Depp moves from a seventh place
tie to third place this year. Finishing out the top five are a Pretty
Woman, Julia Roberts (#4), and one of the Men in Black, Will Smith
(#5), who were each tied for fifth place on last year's list.

These are the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 1,114 U.S.
adults surveyed online by Harris Interactive(R) between December 4 and
12, 2007.

Rounding out the top ten is one old standard and four movie stars
who are new to the list this year, three returning after an absence
and one on the list for the first time. In sixth place is John Wayne,
who is the only movie star to appear on every Harris Poll top ten
movie star list since it first began in 1994. And this is after having
died in 1979! Tied for seventh on the list are Matt Damon, who's
Bourne Trilogy may have helped him make his first appearance on the
list, and an old James Bond, Sean Connery. At number nine is Miss
Congeniality herself, Sandra Bullock, and at number ten is Bruce
Willis, who returns after a seven year absence and, perhaps
coincidently, had a new Die Hard movie released this past summer.

Four actors have also dropped off the list this year. This year,
Clint Eastwood (#4 last year), Mel Gibson (tied for #7), George
Clooney (#9) and Harrison Ford (#10) were all off the list. While
three of the actors did not have any new movies released during 2007,
George Clooney did have two, Ocean's 13 and Michael Clayton, so it is
somewhat surprising to see him drop off.

Different groups have different favorite movie stars. For men,
Denzel Washington is their favorite while women cite Tom Hanks as
their favorite. Age also has some differences. For the two younger
generations, Echo Boomers (those aged 18-30) and Generation X (those
aged 31-42), Johnny Depp emerges as the favorite. Baby Boomers (those
aged 43-61) say Denzel Washington is their favorite movie star. Denzel
Washington is also the favorite for Matures (those aged 62 and older),
but he ties with Tom Hanks in this oldest generation.

One's favorite movie star also changes depending on region. In the
East, Denzel Washington and Tom Hanks are tied for favorite while Tom
Hanks stands alone on top in the Midwest. In the West it's Johnny
Depp, while Will Smith is the favorite in the South.

Republicans, Democrats and Independents not only support different
political candidates, they also have different favorite movie stars.
For Republicans, Tom Hanks is the favorite, while for Democrats it's
Denzel Washington. Independents say Johnny Depp is their favorite.

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*T
TABLE 1
FAVORITE MOVIE STAR
"Who is your favorite movie star?"
Unprompted responses
Base: All adults

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Denzel Washington * 4 8 10 10 * =7
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Hanks 5 6 7 * * =5 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Johnny Depp * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Julia Roberts * * * * * 8 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Will Smith * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------
John Wayne 2 1 2 4 2 2 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt Damon * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sean Connery * * * =7 =8 7 =10
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandra Bullock * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce Willis * * * * * * =7
----------------------------------------------------------------------

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Denzel Washington 8 7 9 6 * 1 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Hanks 2 1 4 1 1 2 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Johnny Depp * * 10 4 2 =7 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Julia Roberts 1 3 2 3 5 =5 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Will Smith * * * * * =5 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------
John Wayne 6 6 7 7 =3 3 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt Damon * * * * * * =7
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sean Connery 5 5 3 9 9 * =7
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandra Bullock 10 10 * * 10 * 9
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce Willis * * * * * * 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------
*T

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*T
*Not in top 10.
"=" prior to a number indicates a tie

DROPPED OUT OF TOP 10 IN 2007
Clint Eastwood (#4), Mel Gibson (tied for #7), George Clooney (#9) and
Harrison Ford (#10)
*T

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*T
TABLE 2
WHICH MOVIE STAR IS #1 AMONG DIFFERENT GROUPS?

Group Favorite Movie Star
----------------------------------------------------------------
Men Denzel Washington
----------------------------------------------------------------
Women Tom Hanks
----------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------
Republican Tom Hanks
----------------------------------------------------------------
Democrat Denzel Washington
----------------------------------------------------------------
Independent Johnny Depp
----------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------
Echo Boomers (18-30) Johnny Depp
----------------------------------------------------------------
Gen X (31-42) Johnny Depp
----------------------------------------------------------------
Baby Boomers (43-61) Denzel Washington
----------------------------------------------------------------
Matures (62+) Denzel Washington/Tom Hanks
----------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------
East Denzel Washington/Tom Hanks
----------------------------------------------------------------
Midwest Tom Hanks
----------------------------------------------------------------
South Will Smith
----------------------------------------------------------------
West Johnny Depp
----------------------------------------------------------------
*T

Methodology

This Harris Poll(R) was conducted online within the United States
December 4 and 12, among 1,114 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for
age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were
weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual
proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also
used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability
sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most
often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error,
coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated
with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting
and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words
"margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated
are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities
for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These
are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this
ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who
have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data
have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population.
Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the
Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error
can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the
National Council on Public Polls.

J32642

Q860

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is one of the largest and fastest-growing
market research firms in the world. The company provides innovative
research, insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more
confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements
in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris
Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for
pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what
it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the
Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide
through its North American, European and Asian offices, and through a
global network of independent market research firms. More information
about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com.

To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and be invited to
participate in online surveys, register at www.harrispollonline.com.

Harris Interactive Inc. 1/08

Harris Interactive
Tracey McNerney, 585-214-7756

Copyright Business Wire 2008