By Zoe Keown

WHILE the rest of try our best to keep afloat in the midst of a recession, big bucks are still what counts with Hollywood's big names.

Even so, everybody likes to get a good return on their investment, and some of today's megastars have struggled recently to justify their equally mega-salaries at the box-office.

Some rising stars, though, look a much better bet.

Step forward Glasgow's own James McAvoy, who has made it into second spot in the list of the top 10 best actors for the buck' table in Forbes business magazine.

Coming second only to Shia LaBeouf, of Transformers fame, McAvoy lines up alongside top names including Robert Downey Jr, Christian Bale and Dennis Quaid.

Figures taken from analysis of box office and DVD sales suggest that for every £1 James McAvoy earns in salary, his movies make £114.

And it seems that age poses no boundary where profit is concerned, with Daniel Radcliffe's movies making £93 for every £1 the Harry Potter star is paid.

Beating some of the most established actors of Hollywood, McAvoy, who was brought up in a Glasgow council estate, is seen as a good Hollywood ambassador for Scotland in terms of profit.

The Oscar-nominated BAFTA award-winner's life has certainly changed since he dreamed of stardom when working in a city supermarket.

But does the amount of pleasure we take away from the films we see justify the colossal salaries paid out to their stars, especially when so many people in the real world are facing financial hardship?

Should Hollywood demand better value for money from its A-listers? The Evening Times took to the streets of Glasgow to find out what you think. Glasgow actor James is great value - but what about other stars? DAVE BLACK, 26, West End: "The money film stars are being paid is ludicrously ridiculous - who really needs all of that money and what will they do with it at the end of the day?" MARTIN SHINN, 56, City Centre: "I just can't believe that they are being paid this amount of money - yet they want people to go to the movies and we have to pay so much. It's obscene." PAUL MARTIN, 39, Anniesland: "These people say we should help third world countries, yet they earn this type of money. I give more money to the charities than they do - and I'm a plasterer." NICOLA WAKELING, 31, City Centre: "There are people out there doing better work, but they aren't being paid nearly as much. The film industry gives us a lot of pleasure, but it is not worth it." CALLUM DONNELY, 26, Alloa: "I can't see any justification for the money film stars earn. Maybe if they put that sort of money back into the film industry, resulting in better films, or gave some of it to charity, things would be different." WENDIE REID, 36, Easterhouse: "I think it's just the way the world is now - it's the same with footballers. I would rather see James McAvoy get it." CRAIG DONALD, 27, Kilbarchan: "I don't think it is too much money if the movie is worth it. People are paid the return on investment." EMESE SOROS, 38, City Centre: "They generate money for what they do - they get their share. I imagine it is quite difficult to be in the public eye as well. The pay is balanced with the work - I wouldn't do it for the money."