Welcome To The Sticks director and star Dany Boon has become the highest paid actor in the history of European cinema, according to French daily Le Figaro.

The film, which sold nearly 21 million tickets in France alone, has already earned Boon $33m (Euros 26m). Boon directed, starred in and co-wrote the film and still stands to gain further from ancillary revenue.

In the number two spot, but well behind Boon, on Le Figaro's list is Gerard Depardieu with $4.5m (Euros 3.54m). The top five actors are rounded out by Daniel Auteuil, Vincent Cassel and Jean Reno. Boon's co-star in Sticks, Kad Merad, is number 7 with $2m (Euros 1.6m).

As for the ladies, Josiane Balasko is at the top of the heap but with less than half the cash as Depardieu at $1.8m (Euros 1.4m). Sticks was a phenomenon in 2008 that is unlikely to repeat itself so Boon cannot be used for comparison.

She is followed by Catherine Frot, Karin Viard, Emmanuelle Beart and Agnes Jaoui. Kristin Scott-Thomas, who often crosses over between French, UK and US cinema, made $765,000 (Euros 600,000) in France last year.