Emma Watson is going to be happy she wasn't available to star in La La Land due to preparations for Beauty and the Beast - the Disney live-action remake’s global success has placed her firmly on track to become Hollywood’s highest-earning star of 2017.

The former Hermione Granger actor, who topped the poll in 2010 thanks to her role in the Harry Potter franchise, is set to overtake Jennifer Lawrence who has remained in pole position since 2015.

It was recently reported that Watson accepted a $2 million (£1.6m) fee to play Disney princess Belle - a meagre amount when considering her male counterpart would most likely receive an inflated sum. The actor did, however, agree to take a cut of the production’s global earnings.

Forbes highest paid actresses 2016 Show all 10 1 /10 Forbes highest paid actresses 2016 Forbes highest paid actresses 2016 Jennifer Lawrence: $46,000,000 Getty Images Forbes highest paid actresses 2016 Melissa McCarthy $33,000,000 Getty Images Forbes highest paid actresses 2016 Scarlett Johansson $25,000,000 AFP/Getty Forbes highest paid actresses 2016 Jennifer Aniston $21,000,000 Getty Forbes highest paid actresses 2016 Fan Bingbing $17,000,000 Getty images Forbes highest paid actresses 2016 Charlize Theron $16,500,000 Forbes highest paid actresses 2016 Amy Adams $13,500,000 Getty Images Forbes highest paid actresses 2016 Julia Roberts $12,000,000 Forbes highest paid actresses 2016 Mila Kunis $11,000,000 Getty Forbes highest paid actresses 2016 Deepika Padukone $10,000,000 Getty Images

While it was expected that Beauty and the Beast would be a box office success, it seems even Disney wasn’t anticipating quite how big it would be; it has broken five records and earned well over $350 million (£280.2m) worldwide. Much of the film's publicity has been centred around the inclusion of Disney's first openly gay character.

Watson has been vocal about feminism in the wake of criticism following a 'topless' Vanity Fair shoot.