Power 100: Sydney’s most powerful actors, TV hosts and influencers

From film and TV heavyweights to the deal-makers behind the scenes, The Daily Telegraph’s Power 100 list reveals the key players in Sydney’s entertainment industry.

They are the movers and shakers of the Australian celebrity world, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

Not surprisingly, our biggest players in the entertainment game are all based in Sydney because this is where the action happens.

Nicole Kidman has soared 39 places up The Daily Telegraph Power 100 rankings to 14, not only because of her influence on screen but for her role in kickstarting the revival of the film industry in Australia after the COVID-19 brought it to a halt in 2020.

Kidman remains one of the most in-demand actors in the world.

Kidman in hit TV drama The Undoing which aired this year.

She filmed her latest series Nine Perfect Strangers, produced by her production company Blossom Films, in NSW with the project injecting more than $100 million into the economy.

With countless accolades to her name, Kidman remains one of the most in demand actors in Hollywood. Last year, she made Forbes’ top 10 highest paid actresses list with a reported $28 million in earnings, some of which is in property.

Kidman runs an impressive property portfolio with her country music star husband Keith Urban including properties in Sydney, Nashville, Beverly Hills and Southern Highlands worth a combined $31 million.

Chris Hemsworth filming Thor: Love and Thunder in Sydney. Picture: MEDIA-MODE.COM

Chris Hemsworth parties with wife Elsa Pataky in Byron. Picture: Instagram

Actor Chris Hemsworth has also jumped up the list to 23.

Byron Bay has become the new Hollywood and it’s almost single-handedly down to Hemsworth. He’s one of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars so his decision to shun America and live a more laid-back lifestyle in Australia has enticed others to do the same. Not only has he encouraged some of his big name friends to live in Australia but he’s also encouraged them to film here.

“Our Australian productions have had great success at getting back to work, and this combined with our country’s natural beauty, diverse locations, state of the art facilities, world-class crews and being home to international stars like Chris Hemsworth, means there has never been a better time to come to Australia to shoot,” says Screen Australia’s CEO Graeme Mason.

Sonia Kruger has won the television host lottery in 2021.

On the small screen Sonia Kruger’s stocks have risen dramatically and she’s jumped 42 places on the list to number 38.

Years of hard work have paid off for the popular TV presenter, who this year will front at least three back-to-back prime time shows.

Holey Moley has already been a success for Channel 7, which poached Kruger back from rival Nine Network a little over a year ago.

She has just begun work on the new series of The Voice and will also host Big Brother when it screens later this year.

There’s also talk Kruger will be back on deck on the new look Dancing With The Stars, which Seven has snapped up from Channel 10.

To host even one prime time show is a big thing in television. This is why Kruger has rocketed up our Power 100 list for 2021.

Ben Fordham’s switch to the breakfast slot has brought in more revenue for 2GB. Picture: AAP

In the radio sphere, Ben Fordham and Ray Hadley also make the cut.

The gamble of bringing in young blood to the 2GB breakfast shift more than paid off for the station after Alan Jones moved on. Fordham has stepped up to the plate and impressively, despite some predicting otherwise, the 44-year-old kept the number one position in the hugely competitive market.

His switch to breakfast has brought in more revenue to the station and the ratings have stayed around the level obtained by Jones. Not surprisingly, Ray Hadley meanwhile continued his dominance in the morning shift, helping drive number one ratings through the day for the station.

Seven Group CEO Ryan Stokes, pictured at their offices in Sydney. Britta Campion / The Australian

The Power 100 has also captured our most influential people behind the scenes like Sony Music boss Denis Handlin, Channel 7s James Warburton and Ryan Stokes and ABC chair Ita Buttrose.

Media tycoon Ryan Stokes has had a stellar 12 months, bagging a spot on the Queen’s Honours List for his achievements moving up in the Power 100 to 31 from 63.

The head of Seven Group Holdings oversees key parts of his father’s media empire including WesTrac, Coates Hire, Beach Energy and Seven West Media.

But his achievements in the business realm are not all the junior Stokes is known for – having been appointed as the chair of the National Gallery of Australia and being a member of the Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Veterans Mental Health.

Seven Group’s top executives describe Mr Stokes as a detail-oriented businessman with a stellar work ethic.

He also praised his replacement, James Warburton, who has relished his task of revamping Seven West Media.

The former Ten boss described the company as being in a “tough spot”, facing a “tired, stagnant and stale” television schedule, declining revenue, and significant debt levels.

Mr Warburton’s feat of pulling Seven West Media out of a hole of debt and decline was a runaway success despite being hampered by a global pandemic, with the company reducing net debt levels to $398m compared to $564m under his leadership.

Originally published as Power 100: Sydney’s most powerful actors, TV hosts and influencers