59. Beth Swofford

"I went to USC film school wanting to be a director," Swofford says. Well, she had to settle for becoming one of the preeminent agents for A-list directors. This year, client Francis Lawrence ignited worldwide boxoffice with "I Am Legend" and Joe Wright drew awards attention for "Atonement." That follows a 2007 that saw clients Paul Greengrass ("The Bourne Ultimatum") and David Yates ("Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix") enjoy boxoffice and critical success.

"The reason I'm in this business in the first place is to get really good films made that I'd want to see myself," she says. A world-renowned collector of fine contemporary art ("It's my passionate hobby"), Swofford's next few months will include artsy releases from clients Sam Mendes ("Revolutionary Road") and Stephen Daldry ("The Reader"), both of which have early Oscar buzz. Wright will follow in April with "The Soloist."