Hollywood Stardom

Through a deft integration of star and film industry studies, Hollywood Stardom reveals the inextricable bonds between culture and commerce in contemporary notions of film stardom. Film scholar Paul McDonald explores stars and stardom in the modern film industry, analyzing the period in which the concept of “star image” has morphed into the “star brand” in a celebrity–obsessed world. Topics explored include configurations of stardom in Hollywood’s talent hierarchy, the role of stars as independent producers, their use in celebrity endorsements and value in the film market, and the formation of prestige stardom through the film awards system. A wide range of examples are explored, including actors George Clooney, Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise, and Daniel Day–Lewis; along with extended case studies of some of Hollywood’s top screen icons: Tom Hanks, Will Smith, and Julia Roberts. Grounded in scholarly rigor, Hollywood Stardom represents an important contribution to contemporary film studies and the shifting role of stardom in the modern Hollywood film industry.

List of Figures vii 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

Paul McDonald is Chair of Creative Industries at the University of Nottingham. He is the author of The Star System: Hollywood’s Production of Popular Identities (2000) and Video and DVD Industries (2007), and co–editor of The Contemporary Hollywood Film Industry (2008).

"In Hollywood Stardom the relationship between Hollywood modes of production and economic film theory is given the importance that it deserves ... It is clear that Paul McDonald knows a great deal about Hollywood movie stars." Cassone: The International Online Magazine of Art and Art Books (June 2013)