Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Downey Jr. top Forbes' most powerful actors

In the last year, Jennifer Lawrence earned her third Oscar
nomination, continued to spearhead the blockbuster "Hunger Games"
franchise and helped reinvigorate the "X-Men" movie series with "Days of
Future Past" -- all at the ripe old age of 23.

Now she can add another feather to her cap: being the highest-ranking actress on the annual Forbes Celebrity 100 list, which grades stars from the worlds of movies, TV, music, sports, books and modeling based on money and fame.

Caption Jennifer Lawrence

Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

Whether
she's leading an indie film or starring in a top box-office saga,
Jennifer Lawrence is one to be watched. We highlight the movie darling's
beginnings and upcoming endeavors. By Christy Khoshaba

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Caption 'The Poker House' | 2008

Phase Films

The
Kentucky native begged her parents to live in the Big Apple for a
summer, hoping to break into the industry at 14 years old. As luck would
have it, Lawrence was discovered by a talent agent one summer day in
New York. She later moved to Los Angeles to launch her career and was
cast in...

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Caption 'Winter's Bone' | 2010

Sebastian Mlynarski / Roadside Attractions

Lawrence
sustained her indie film path by starring in the drama "Winter's Bone."
She plays a dogged young woman who scythes through dangerous terrain to
hunt down her drug-dealing father while keeping her two siblings,
pictured above, safe. The producers of this film initially rejected...

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Caption First Oscars | 2011

Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

Her
performance in "Winter's Bone" was so riveting, she earned an Oscar nod
for performance by an actress in a leading role. And unlike in the
film, Lawrence wasn't afraid to put her good looks on display when she
arrived at the 2011 Academy Awards in a figure-hugging red Calvin Klein
gown that...

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Caption 'Like Crazy' | 2011

Fred Hayes / Paramount Pictures

In
2011, Lawrence appeared in another Sundance Grand Jury Prize indie
movie (first was "Winter's Bone") when she played a small role as the
sweet, temporary girlfriend, Sam, to actor Anton Yelchin's Jacob in
"Like Crazy." Jacob eventually leaves Sam to return to a British college
student...

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Coming
in at No. 12, Lawrence beat out Sandra Bullock (No. 36), Angelina Jolie
(No. 73), Scarlett Johansson (No. 76) and Jennifer Aniston (No. 77),
among others.

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey, who occasionally acts,
came in ahead of Lawrence at No. 4 but is classified by Forbes as a
"personality" rather than an actress. (Winfrey moved off the top spot on
the list this year, which was claimed by Beyonce Knowles.)

Lawrence
is also the fourth-youngest celebrity to crack the list, after Miley
Cyrus (age 20, No. 17), Justin Bieber (age 20, No. 33) and Kate Upton
(age 22, No. 94).





































Among male actors, "Iron Man" and "Avengers" star Robert Downey Jr.
ranked highest, at No. 10. He's followed by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
(No. 23), Bradley Cooper (No. 48), and Leonardo DiCaprio and Matthew
McConaughey (tied at No. 52). McConaughey -- he of the McConaissance -- is among the 20 celebrities debuting on the list this year.

The
directors and producers on the list include Steven Spielberg (No. 11),
Mark Burnett (No. 41), Peter Jackson (No. 48), Michael Bay (No. 50) and
Tyler Perry (No. 56).