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Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman has criticised Hollywood’s ongoing gender pay disparity in a new interview.
Speaking on CNN’s The Amanpour Hour, Colman opened up about outdated notions that still prevail in the film industry.
“Don’t get me started on the pay disparity, but male actors get paid more because they used to say they drew in the audiences,” Colman said. “And actually, that hasn’t been true for decades but they still like to use that as a reason to not pay women as much as their male counterparts.”
“Research suggests that [women] were always big box office draws.”
Despite starring in highly-acclaimed projects such as Broadchurch, Fleabag, The Crown, The Favourite and The Lost Daughter, and having been awarded with an Oscar, two Emmys and four BAFTAs, Colman has never been immune to these disparities.
“I’m very aware that if I was Oliver Colman, I’d be earning a f— of a lot more than I am,” she said. “I know of one pay disparity, which is a 12,000 percent difference. Do the maths, I know.”
It’s not the first time the actress has been candid about the pay disparities, having recently spoken to the Radio Times Podcast about female representation on screen.
“There’ve been many fantastic female-centric films which have moved me. And some of the biggest-grossing films, Barbie, Bridesmaids, Thelma & Louise, are led by women.
“People say men get paid more because they get more bums on seats. That’s a lie! It can be proved in the box office. I don’t know why we’re still having to discuss it!”
In the same interview, Colman noted the double standard when it comes to obscenities.
“If a woman swears, people act shocked. Fuck off! Women are human – funny, filthy, loving, caring – just like men.”
In her most recent film, the historical dramedy about unruly women, Wicked Little Letters, Colman stars as the prim and proper Edith who receives a collection of letters containing obscenities.
Wicked Little Letters is in cinemas now.
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