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 British actress Claire Foy, who starred as a young Queen
Elizabeth in the critically acclaimed Netflix series "The
Crown," was paid less than her co-star, Matt Smith, according to
the television show's producers.
In the latest example of pay disparity in the entertainment
industry, Hollywood trade publication Variety reported on
Tuesday that "The Crown" producers Andy Harries and Suzanne
Mackie told a television industry conference in Jerusalem that
Smith, who played a young Prince Philip, was paid more than Foy
for the first two seasons of the show.
Foy, 33, won a Golden Globe and two Screen Actors Guild awards
for her nuanced portrayal of Britain's monarch in the 1950s and
1960s. Smith, 35, was not similarly honored.
The pay difference was due to Smith coming into the show after a
six-year stint as "Dr. Who" on television - one of Britain's
most popular shows, the producers said. They did not give
details of the gap.
The producers said they would rectify that in the future,
Variety reported.
"Going forward, no one gets paid more than the queen," Variety
quoted Mackie as saying.
Foy, however, will not be reprising her role as Queen Elizabeth.
British actress Olivia Coleman is stepping in to play the older
monarch as upcoming Season 3 of the show moves into the 1970s.
Prince Philip will also be played by a different actor.
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Netflix Inc declined to comment on actor salaries. Representatives
for Foy and Smith did not return requests for comment on Tuesday.
"The Crown" is one of the most expensive television shows ever
produced, costing a reported $130 million for the first season.
The ongoing disparity between men and women is reflected in annual
lists published by Forbes magazine. In 2017, Emma Stone topped the
best-paid actress list with $26 million, while Mark Wahlberg was the
highest paid man with $68 million in estimated annual earnings.
Wahlberg made news earlier this year when it was revealed that he
was paid $1.5 million for reshoots on movie "All the Money in the
World" while co-star Michelle Williams got $1,000. Wahlberg later
donated his salary to Time's Up, the campaign against workplace
sexual misconduct.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
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