Table of Contents

List of Tables ix

Acknowledgments x

Introduction 1

Part One: Star Business 9

1 The Symbolic Commerce of Hollywood Stardom 11

2 Star-as-Brand 41

3 The Extraordinary Ordinariness of Tom Hanks 65

Part Two: Star System 85

4 Post-Studio Stardom 87

5 Money and Talent 123

6 “The Will Smith Business” 155

Part Three: Star Performance 179

7 Spectacular Acts 181

8 Prestige Stardom and the Awards System 215

9 Starring Julia Roberts 254

10 Conclusion 281

Appendix: Academy Award Nominees and Winners in the Actress and Actor in a Leading Role Categories, 1990–2009 285

References 291

Index 315