Australian movie stars are some of the biggest earners in Tinsel Town.

The group of amazing artists draws a stunning $1billion a year to the US box office. The top 12 Australian actors have together appeared in movies that made $8.94billion since 2000, reports a study commissioned by The Daily Telegraph.

In a breakdown, this meant that Australian performers – from a country of just 21 million people – helped attract an annual $1 in every $10 at the US box office.

Hugh Jackman, at the top of the list of Australian earners, brought in $1.4billion for his films in the past eight years. Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush brought in $1.13billion, mostly due to his role in the blockbuster trilogy Pirates Of The Caribbean.

Box office ratings agency Rentrak carried out the study that ranked Cate Blanchett third-highest. She brought in $1billion as a result of roles in popular epics such as The Lord Of The Rings trilogy and the latest Indiana Jones film. Erica Bana and the late Heath Ledger were next.

The Dark Knight, which starred Ledger, made more money than any other film on its opening weekend in the US. Nicole Kidman finished sixth. Americans have paid $839million to see her films since 2000. Mel Gibson, who has cut back his screen work, still brings a steady stream of revenue with movies that made $709million in the past eight years.

Susie Dobson of the Hollywood-based Australians In Film, said Australians were recognised for their solid grounding that comes from soap operas back home.