And it's about time.
Netflix fans were left shocked last month, as cult fav show The Crown was revealed to have a shocking gender pay gap, with its leading actress Claire Foy paid significantly less than her male co-star, Matt Smith.
Just to reiterate – that’s the actress who plays the Queen getting paid significantly less than the actor who plays her onscreen husband, Prince Philip – who featured far less in the programme.
Unsurprisingly, the news of The Crown’s gender pay gap didn’t go down well, with fans of the show voicing their outrage, and the show’s producers releasing a statement that they would rectify the pay disparity for the seasons ahead.
They didn’t stop there though, with The Crown fans angry on Claire Foy’s behalf. In response, it has been announced that the 34-year-old actress will receive a whopping £200,000 in back pay - and it’s about time.
‘It definitely opened my eyes to a lot,’ Claire explained in an interview with The Telegraph before the back payment went through, explaining how it affected her personally. ‘And I certainly won’t be naive about those things.’
She continued: ‘It’s really opened my eyes about what I am allowed to have an opinion about, and what I’m allowed to stand up for myself about. And I think that’s really changed my approach to myself and other women in the industry. It’s been only a positive thing – even though, embarrassing.’
Claire’s comments come after her co-star Matt Smith addressed The Crown’s gender pay gap earlier this week.
‘Claire is one of my best friends,’ he told The Hollywood Reporter at the world premiere of his new film, Mapplethorpe, at the Tribeca Film Festival. ‘And I believe that we should be paid equally and fairly and there should be equality for all.’
He continued: ‘I support her completely, and I’m pleased that it was resolved and they made amends for it because that what’s needed to happen. Going forward, I think we should all bear in mind that we need to strive to make this better and a more even playing field for everyone involved – but not just in our industry, in all industries.’
Matt Smith reportedly received some backlash for earning more than his female counterpart when the news originally broke, causing the producers to release a statement admitting fault.
‘As the producers of The Crown, we at Left Bank Pictures are responsible for budgets and salaries,’ the statement read. ‘The actors are not aware of who gets what, and cannot be held personally responsible for the pay of their colleagues.’
We hope this is sorted for the upcoming seasons.
