THE Echo’s growing online readership helped vote Angelina Jolie as the 2010 Film Star of the Year, in the prestigious Richard Attenborough Film Awards (RAFAS).

The RAFAs are chosen by regional film critics and film-goers alike.

The Echo’s parent company Newsquest sponsored the public award category for the second year running - where readers decide the winner with an online vote.

Ten of Newsquest’s top websites, including this site and the dorsetecho.co.uk, joined forces for the poll.

A staggering 331,628 votes were cast by visitors to our sites, with Salt star Angelina Jolie securing nearly 50 per cent of the votes to win.

The actress will be presented with her award at a special ceremony in London early in 2011.

The results in full were:

• Angelina Jolie: 148,627 votes

• Kristen Stewart: 114,515

• Robert Pattinson: 53,937

• Leonardo DiCaprio: 9,073

• Noomi Rapace: 2,056

• Jesse Eisenberg: 1,185

• Julia Roberts: 735

• Robert Downey Jr: 705

• George Clooney: 403

• Gemma Arterton: 392