Angelina Jolie has topped Forbes' list of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood, having earned a jaw-dropping $33 million (£21.6m) from June 2012 to June 2013. How on Earth did the 38 year-old Tomb Raider actress manage to earn so much having starred in her last film (not counting her voice work on 2011's Kung Fu Panda II) three years ago in 2011's The Tourist?

Well, The Guardian attributes her mega paycheck to a lucrative $10 million (£6.6m) contract with fashion label Louis Vuitton as well as a $15 million (£9.9m) salary for her upcoming role in 2014's Sleeping Beauty live action spin-off, Maleficent.

Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie Is Exceedingly Rich.

Despite a few years out of serious acting, the actress, who has children with partner and fellow actor Brad Pitt, has faced fierce media scrutiny after her announcement via a New York Times article this year that she'd made the difficult decision to undergo a double mastectomy (removal of both breasts) after it was discovered she carried the BRCA1 gene that increases the likelihood of cancer.

However, her surgery didn't make the mother-of-six take her foot off the pedal in every aspect of her life: she's currently in Japan with Pitt and three of her children whilst her partner promotes his latest zombie action movie, World War Z. Rather than spending her time smiling and posing alongside her equally successful man, Jolie took the opportunity to promote a cause close to her own heart to an eastern audience.

Angelina Jolie Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt Has Been A Source Of Support For

Jolie spoke at a Japanese university screening of her self-directed 2011 film, In The Land of Blood and Honey, which highlights sexual violence in war-torn Bosnia; a cause that the daughter of Jon Voight is using her position as special envoy for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to campaign strongly against.

Jennifer Lawrence
The Hunger Games' Jennifer Lawrence Was The Second Highest Paid Actress Of The Last Year.

Angelina was ranked above Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook actress Jennifer Lawrence who will star this year in the sequel to 2012's The Hunger Games having earned $26 million (£17m). Twilight actress Kristen Stewart who previously held the top spot when the franchise was in full swing now comes in at third with $22 million (£14.4m) and will probably keep dropping down in salary as she focusses on smaller, independent films.