Movie Stars Selling Out?

Suddenly movie stars have decided that it's okay to do TV commercials and commercial print ads. Is it because we're going to see the ones they are making in Japan online anyway (see www.gaijinagogo.com)? Do they just want some of that money that is being paid to musicians, athletes and TV stars for endorsements?

Until very recently, it was not seen as good form for movie stars to sell their namesake and face to endorse products. Now, advertisements starring movie stars are everywhere.

This is not about a now famous actor who did commercials before their movie star status.

This is also not about models-turned-actress-turned models like Eva Longoria, Andie MacDowell. Although having movie stars on the cover of fashion magazines has certainly helped magazine rack sales, if not made "just models" look for other venues for paying jobs. This is about actual high-profile and high-paid movie stars sporting everything from underwear to allergy medicine for some cold hard cash.

TV Commercials

Estee Lauder - Gwyneth Paltrow
Hanes - Kevin Bacon
L'Oreal - Diane Keaton
Macy's - Susan Sarandon

Voice-over

Lowe's - Gene Hackman
Nasonex - Antonio Banderas

Print Ads

Hanes - Jennifer Love Hewitt
Gap - Sarah Jessica Parker
Montblanc - Johnny Depp; these ads are for Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), so it is not a complete commercial sell out.
Revlon - Eva Mendes

Product Spokesmodels/Print Models

While plenty of celebrities have their own signature perfumes and scents, ...this movie star is just selling their likeness to sell already established products.

Matthew Mcconaughey is now the Stetson Man.
What's next Tom Cruise as the Brawny Guy? Ben Stiller as the Marlboro Man?

The only question that remains is will these commercial endorsements by movie stars hurt or help their box office dollars and their star power?