The movie hope of Alaskans rests on the shoulders of one driven, spunky woman. No, it's not Sarah Palin (or her "Dancing With the Stars" daughter Bristol).

The personality officials believe will bring a new dawn of prosperity is none other than Drew Barrymore .

Alaska , long a fictional setting but not oft-used shooting locale, is in the midst of an economic boost thanks to Barrymore's Universal Features film " Everybody Loves Whales " about a 1998 rescue for three gray whales trapped in Arctic ice.

"We wouldn't be 'Hollywood North.' Vancouver claims that. We'd be 'Hollywood Far North,'" state Senator Johnny Ellis told Reuters .

Ellis wrote the legislation in 2008 establishing a special tax credit for big movies. The legislation also helped resurrect a state film office.

Be

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