Olivia Colman is shedding light on the gender pay gap in Hollywood, asserting that she would earn significantly more if she were male. During her appearance on The Amanpour Hour with host Christiane Amanpour, the Oscar winner discussed the disparities in pay prevalent in the film and television industry. Addressing the issue, Colman remarked, “The pay disparity is a sore spot; male actors continue to receive higher pay under the outdated notion that they bring in larger audiences. However, this hasn’t been the case for years, yet the discrepancy persists.”
When Amanpour inquired about her personal experiences with pay inequality despite her acclaimed roles in films such as The Favourite and Accused, as well as television series like The Crown, Broadchurch, and Heartstopper, Colman candidly shared, “I’m very aware that if I was Oliver Colman, I’d be earning a f*** of a lot more than I am. I know of one pay disparity, which is a 12,000% difference.”
Colman joins a chorus of Hollywood stars speaking out against wage disparities. Taraji P. Henson, for instance, has been vocal about the industry’s undervaluation of Black actresses. During promotions for The Color Purple, Henson disclosed contemplating quitting the industry due to being consistently underpaid for her work.
Expressing her frustration during an appearance on Gayle King’s SiriusXM show in December 2023, she stated, “I’m exhausted from working tirelessly, giving my best, and receiving a fraction of what I deserve. It’s disheartening to hear my fellow actresses echo the same sentiment repeatedly. The workload increases, but the compensation doesn’t match up. It’s a team effort, and everyone deserves fair compensation for their contributions.”
