Oprah Winfrey tops Forbes’ most influential American celebs list

KARACHI: “Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the most influential of them all?” Even though it has been nearly two years since her talk show ended, according to Forbes, Oprah Winfrey is still THE most influential American celebrity today!

Their E-Poll Market Research team pitted 7500 celebrities against each other based on 46 various personality traits as voted by Americans. While the average for all celebrities is only 11%, 48% of the people surveyed considered Winfrey influential, as in having a great impact on the country’s culture. Last year too she topped the list but is now down one percent from her previous record of 49%.

Steven Spielberg is the runner-up, just one percent behind Winfrey. If you’re wondering how a film maker affects culture, consider the fact that no discussion of dinosaur flicks or shark films is complete without mention of his “Jurassic Park” or “Jaws” even now over a decade after their release.

Other Hollywood directors in the top five are Martin Scorsese (“Shutter Island”), Ron Howard (“A Beautiful Mind”) and George Lucas (“Star Wars”), in that order.

TV’s Dr. Mehmet Oz, perhaps because he’s under Winfrey’s wing, made it to the 6^th spot.

However, the only other females on the list are broadcast journalist Barbara Walters at No. 7 and financial columnist Suze Orman at No. 9.

Sandwiched between the two at No.8 is Irish musician Bono, lead-vocalist of the rock-band U2.

Michael J. Fox (“Back to the Future”), who ranked second in 2012, is missing from this year's top 10, as he dropped down to 13^th place. Meanwhile, Clint Eastwood, who was 13^th last year jumped up to the No.10 spot this year.

Winfrey’s most admirable quality, according to the poll, is “compassion.”