Denzel Washington Flies to Number One and is America's Favorite Movie Star

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Denzel Washington played rogue spy and a hero pilot with a few problems in 2012, the latter role earning him his sixth Academy Award nomination, among other accolades.  Washington also reclaims a title he last held in 2008 – America's Favorite Movie Star, rising one place from last year. Clint Eastwood had an "interesting" year and spoke to a now infamous empty chair, but remains at number two, and all around nice guy Tom Hanks rises one spot to the number three position.

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These are some of the results of The Harris Poll^® of 2,141 adults surveyed online between December 12 and 18, 2012 by Harris Interactive^®.

The Magnificent Seven

Or, at least the rest of our top ten list… Falling from number one to a tie for number 4 is Johnny Depp. The actor who has a lot of the paparazzi wondering "did he or didn't he" (get married, that is), Brad Pitt, shares the fourth spot, after not being on the top ten list since 1998.

There is always one constant on the top ten list of America's favorite movie stars and, yet again, John Wayne is on the list, this year dropping one spot to number 6. Also dropping one spot this year is George Clooney, who goes from number 6 to number 7, while Indiana Jones, err, Han Solo, no, Harrison Ford remains in the number 8 spot.

Rounding out the top ten are two actors making it onto the list for the second time. She's earned accolade after accolade throughout her career, and for the second time Meryl Streep makes this list at number 9 (her first time being in the number 8 spot in 2009). Meanwhile, Matt Damon joins fellow Ocean's stars Pitt and Clooney on the list at number 10 (his first time on the list was in a tie for the seventh spot in 2007).

Goodbye Girl (and two guys)

This year there are three additions to the list from last year, which means that three actors have dropped out of the top ten.  Sandra Bullock, who was number 7; Will Smith, who was number 9; and Adam Sandler, who was at number 10, all dropped off the top ten this year.

Anything Goes

Age, region, gender and political party and leanings can often mean different favorite movie stars. Men cite Clint Eastwood as their favorite while women say it is Denzel Washington. Echo Boomers (those aged 18-35) and Baby Boomers (aged 48-66) agree on Denzel Washington as their favorite actor, while for Gen Xers (aged 36-47) the #1 spot is a tie between Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp. John Wayne is the favorite among Matures (those aged 67 and older).

The South is a region that stands alone: those who live in the East, Midwest and West all say Denzel Washington is their favorite (with Tom Hanks sharing the honor in the Midwest), but Clint Eastwood is the favorite in the South. The election year may have come and gone, but partisan bickering continues: Clint Eastwood is the favorite for Republicans and Conservatives, while Denzel Washington is the favorite for Democrats and Liberals. Independents say Tom Hanks is their favorite, while for Moderates it is Denzel Washington.

TABLE 1
FAVORITE MOVIE STAR
"Who is your favorite movie star?"
Unprompted responses

Base: All adults

*Not in top 10.
"=" prior to a number indicates a tie

TABLE 1, continued
FAVORITE MOVIE STAR
"Who is your favorite movie star?"
Unprompted responses

Base: All adults

*Not in top 10.
"=" prior to a number indicates a tie

DROPPED OUT OF TOP 10 IN 2012
Sandra Bullock (#7), Will Smith (#9) and Adam Sandler (#10)

TABLE 2
WHICH MOVIE STAR IS #1 AMONG DIFFERENT GROUPS?

Methodology

This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States between December 12 and 18, 2012 among 2,141 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.

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The Harris Poll^® #5, January 23, 2013
By Regina A. Corso, SVP, Harris Poll and Public Relations, Harris Interactive

About Harris Interactive

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SOURCE Harris Interactive