15 Dec 2007 12:20:00 pm

Hollywood heart-throbs top autograph hunter poll

LOS ANGELES - HOLLYWOOD heart-throbs Johnny Depp, Matt Damon and George Clooney have topped an annual poll ranking the best celebrity autograph signers, a magazine reported on Friday.
Depp, the 44-year-old star of Pirates of the Caribbean and the upcoming movie musical Sweeney Todd, headed the list for the third consecutive year, Autograph magazine reported in its latest issue (www.Autographmagazine.com).

'Whether at a premiere, in a restaurant or on location, Depp may just be the best Hollywood autograph signer of all time,' said Mr Steve Cyrkin, the magazine's editor and publisher.

Damon and Clooney came second and third on the top ten list, which also included Jack Nicholson, John Travolta and, somewhat surprisingly, Russell Crowe, Cyrkin said.

Crowe had been on the magazine's top 10 worst autograph signer's list last year. '(Crowe) may still be a bit grumpy at times but now he signs pretty much anytime anyone asks,' Mr Cyrkin said.

However there were no such plaudits for funnyman Will Ferrell, who topped the magazine's worst list, ahead of Spider-Man star Tobey Maguire and Walk the Line actor Joaquin Phoenix.

'What's so frustrating about Will Ferrell being the worst autograph signer this past year is that he used to be so nice to fans and collectors and a great signer,' Mr Cyrkin said.

The magazine compiled the list based on the observations of judges based in Europe, New York and California. -- AFP