BBC News Online: Entertainment: Film

Roberts 'most powerful actress'

Roberts won an Oscar in March for Erin Brockovich

Roberts came in at number three for the second year running on the trade publication's annual list of the 100 most powerful women in the business.

The only other performer to make it on to the list was singer and actress Madonna, at number 42 - all the rest were executives.

The latest tribute to Roberts' status followed Oscar triumph for her work in Steven Soderbergh's hit film Erin Brockovich.

Roberts won her first Best Actress Academy Award in March for her performance as a single mother battling a California power company accused of polluting water supplies.

The key to Madonna's success had been her "ability to create and withstand controversy, and her courage to reinvent herself, her image, and her music every few years", the magazine said.

Universal Pictures boss Stacey Snider took the top spot, moving up from number two last year.

Over the past year, she has presided over blockbusters including The Mummy Returns, Jurassic Park III, The Fast and the Furious and American Pie II.

The list, in its 10th year, has been expanded from 50 to 100 names.

A spokeswoman said the expansion of the list reflected the fact that "there are many more women in positions of power in Hollywood now than when we started the issue a decade ago".

Roberts has teamed up with Erin Brockovich director Soderbergh once again for Ocean's Eleven, which opens in the US this month and is expected to go on release in the UK and the rest of Europe early next year.

The film is a remake of the 1960 movie of the same name, starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr and Peter Lawford - known collectively as the Rat Pack.

It has an all-star cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Elliott Gould.