Sir Sean Connery ranked 3rd most powerful Brit in Hollywood

Directors, actors, producers whose films consistently generate huge profits; writers, executives and agents who can package a winning team. But who are the Brits that have it?

Here is the A-list of British big shots, the masters and commanders of movies and television, and the B-list — those for whom talent is currently not enough to win promotion.

Sunday Times writers scoured the industry for "insider" information in compiling this list. Our sources were both British and American Hollywood professionals and executives — those in the know from all branches of the industry who work daily with the names who can make or break projects. We have included television production.

Once a separate industry, it is now a prominent contributor to Hollywood names, projects and profits with crossover development and spin-off franchises.

3. SEAN CONNERY, ACTOR
Lovable and bankable in equal measures, Sir Sean Connery, 73, — aka "the world's sexiest man" and everyone's favourite James Bond — could write his contract on any number of films, if he chose. But the 6ft 3in Scot has taken it relatively easy of late. He has only starred in three films since 1999, including Entrapment, opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones, and turned down Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. He next stars as a master thief in Josiah's Canon.

The Top 10:
1. JUDE LAW, ACTOR
2. RIDLEY AND TONY SCOTT, DIRECTORS AND PRODUCERS
3. SEAN CONNERY, ACTOR
4. MICHAEL CAINE, ACTOR
5. DAVID HEYMAN, PRODUCER
6. PETER RICE, EXECUTIVE
7. MARK BURNETT, PRODUCER
8. GRAHAM KING, PRODUCER
9. STEWART TILL, EXECUTIVE
10. EWAN McGREGOR, ACTOR
11. KEIRA KNIGHTLEY, ACTRESS
12. CATHERINE ZETA-JONES, ACTRESS
13. KATE WINSLET, ACTRESS
14. TOM GUTTERIDGE, EXECUTIVE
15. SAM MENDES, DIRECTOR
16. BUMBLE WARD, PUBLICIST
17. NICK REED, AGENT
18. ANTHONY MINGHELLA, WRITER AND DIRECTOR
19. ORLANDO BLOOM, ACTOR
20. PAUL BETTANY, ACTOR
21. TIM BEVAN AND ERIC FELLNER PRODUCERS
22. JOHN MADDEN, DIRECTOR
23. ANTHONY HOPKINS, ACTOR
24. HOWARD STRINGER, EXECUTIVE
25. TOM WILKINSON, ACTOR

Thanks to `Shaun` for the alert.

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