Olivia Colman is getting candid about the gender pay gap, long protested in Hollywood. During a recent appearance on CNN Amanpour’s hour where she was discussing her latest film, Wicked Little Lettersthe actress and producer spoke out about the pay gap that still plagues the industry – even for an Oscar winner like herself.
“Don’t get me started on the pay gap, but male actors get paid more because they used to say they appealed to the audience,” The crown star told presenter Christiane Amanpour. “And actually, that hasn’t been true for decades, but they still like to use that as a reason not to pay women as much as men.”
When Amanpour asked if the Emmy winner has experienced pay disparities firsthand despite being an award-winning actress, Colman stated bluntly that her accolades — which include an Oscar, two Emmys and four BAFTAs — don’t make her an exception.
“I am very aware that if I were Oliver Colman I would earn a lot more than I do,” she said in response. “I know about the pay gap, which is a 12,000 percent difference. Do the math, I know.”
Colman is one of many stars speaking out about the disheartening pay gaps that exist in the industry. In December 2023, Taraji P. Henson made headlines when she addressed the the harsh reality of significant pay inequality in Hollywood for black creatives.
In a conversation with King Gayle for SiriusXM radio while promoting your film, The color purplewith other guests Danielle Brooks and Blitz Bazawule, things took a dark turn when Henson opened up about her frustrations with the lack of fair pay in the industry, implying that long-standing issues are driving factors behind her giving up acting for good.
“I’m tired of working so hard, being nice about what I do, and getting paid a fraction of the cost,” she said. “I’m tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over again. You get tired. I hear people say ‘You work hard!’ I need. Mathematics is not mathematics. And when you start working hard, you have a team. Big bills come with what we do. We don’t do this alone.”
“I’m only human. Every time I do something and break another glass ceiling, when it comes time to renegotiate, I’m at rock bottom again, like I never did what I just did and I’m tired,” Henson lamented. “I’m tired. It wears on you. What does that mean? What is this telling me? If I can’t fight for them coming after me, then what the hell am I doing?”
Beginning to cry in frustration, Henson noted that despite his many successes, he is still told there is no money on the table during negotiations because black actors and stories “aren’t translated overseas,” among other excuses. She said she has turned to several other projects, including her hair care line TPH, to supplement her acting income and diversify her brand.
“I’m tired of hearing that my whole career,” Henson said. “Over twenty years in the game, and I hear the same thing, and I see what you do for another production, but when it comes time to fight for us, they don’t have the money. And I’m just supposed to grin, grin and bear it. Enough! That’s why I have other (brands), because this industry, if you let it, will steal your soul. But I refuse to let that happen. “
Bazawule, who directed The color purple, backed up his claims, sharing that he had to fight to get all of his lead actors cast in the film despite its various successes. He said, “It was like you were never here,” when he brought their names into the studio.
“The fact that each of you had to audition for this role… roles that were second nature to you… roles that no one should question,” Bazawule said.
Several stars supported Henson’s comments, including A black lady sketch show The creator Robin Thedewho noted that Henson was “telling the absolute truth” in his X (formerly Twitter) post.
“This woman was NOMINATED FOR THE OSCAR – imagine the fight for 99% of the rest. Maybe people can’t relate, but that’s also the problem – being misunderstood and people just assuming they’re ‘rich’. So the next time you see an actor working at Trader Joe’s, maybe it will be different,” Thede added.
Gabrielle Union added her voice to the conversationwriting, “Not a damn lie told. No. A. Damn. Lie. Let’s go to bat for the next generation and to hell with even our own generation and above. We don’t hesitate to be the change we all need to see. And that It harms your mind, health, soul and career if we continue like this 💯 ❤️ u”
Oscar winner Viola Davis praised Henson for his courage, sharing a clip of the interview on his Instagram page. “This!!!! THIS!!! 👆🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿” she captioned the post, which caught the attention of several other famous faces.
Davis herself has talked about inequality of opportunities and compensation for black artists in Hollywood. Davis highlighted the racial pay gap in a conversation with Tina Brown as part of Women in the world salon in February 2018.
“We’re not going to talk about the gender pay gap. Because a lot of the women who have stepped forward – and I stand in solidarity with them, okay – what they’re getting paid, which is half of what a man is getting paid… well, we probably get paid a tenth of what a Caucasian woman gets paid. And I’m number one on the call list. And then I come in and I have to fight for my worth,” she said.
The Juilliard-trained actress highlighted that she is widely acclaimed across multiple mediums, with decades of experience in film, television and on stage.
“I’ve won the Oscar, I’ve won the Emmy, I’ve won two Tonys, I’ve done Broadway, I’ve done off-Broadway, I’ve done TV, I’ve done film, I’ve done all of that,” she added. “I have a career that’s probably comparable to Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore , Sigourney Weaver. They all came from Yale, came out of Juilliard, came out of NYU. close to them, not in terms of money, not in terms of job opportunities, not even close.”
She continued: “But I have to pick up that phone and people say, ‘You’re a black Meryl Streep… There’s no one like you.’ OK, so if there’s no one like me, you think I’m that, you pay me what I’m worth. You give me what I’m worth.
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