"I'm very aware that if I was Oliver Colman, I'd be earning a... lot more than I am.”- Olivia Colman
In a recent interview Brit Actress Olivia Colman threw shade at the gender pay gap in Hollywood, expressing frustration that if she were a man (Oliver), her paycheck would have more zeroes.
For her latest, "Wicked Little Letters," the Oscar winning actress gave an interview to CNN Christiane Amanpours at ‘The Amanpours hour’, she was asked about women being taken more seriously in Hollywood. Colman bluntly declared that her accolades, which include an Oscar, two Emmys, and four BAFTAs, do not make her the exception.
She spilled the tea,
"Research suggests that [women have] always been big box office draws," she said. "
"Don't get me started on the pay disparity, but male actors get paid more because they [executives] used to say they [male actors] draw in the audiences. 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, particularly in our industry."
"I’m very aware that if I was Oliver Colman, I’d be earning a f*ck of a lot more than I am,"
"I know of one pay disparity which was a 12,000% difference. Do the maths."
Olivia Colman
Colman reached the Hollywood A-list after nabbing the Best Actress Oscar in 2019 for her performance as Queen Anne in "The Favourite." Since then, she has scored two more Oscar nominations! she hs worked in "Wonka," and will be seen in her upcoming "Paddington In Peru."
But wait, there's more! She's also been seen at the small screen with roles in "Heartstopper" and the eagerly anticipated "Secret Invasion." And who could forget her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in seasons three and four of Netflix's "The Crown"?
Pay-Gap in Film Industry
Interestingly, It is not the first time any actress has shed the spotlight on this very issue but the glitz and glamour of Hollywood often overshadow the gender pay disparity that plagues the entertainment industry.
We are living in the 21st century, but the gap between male and female actors' earnings remains a stark reality. In recent years, numerous high-profile incidents have brought the issue of unequal pay to the forefront of public discourse. Jennifer Lawrence's candid revelations about being paid less than her male co-stars in "American Hustle.”
Lawrence later wrote that she didn't want to push for more during negotiations because she "didn't want to seem 'difficult' or 'spoiled'".
"At the time, that seemed like a fine idea, until I saw the payroll on the internet and realised every man I was working with definitely didn't worry about being 'difficult' or 'spoiled'."
Need more instances? Let’s quickly take a look at the Forbes' highest paid actor list. In 2023, Adam Sandler dominated the list, raking in a whopping $73 million, thanks to his hit Netflix flick "Murder Mystery 2" and his wildly successful stand-up comedy tour. Right on his heels was the talented Margot Robbie, who banked an impressive $59 million, mainly from her starring role in and production of the blockbuster "Barbie." Joining the top earners was the beloved Jennifer Aniston, snagging the sixth spot with a cool $42 million. Others on the list for top 10 were all Men!
Thankfully, Celebrities like Taraji P. Henson and Olivia Colman have courageously spoken out about the injustices they face, shedding light on the harsh realities of Hollywood's significant pay inequality. Taraji Henson's poignant remarks about feeling undervalued and exhausted by the industry's lack of fair compensation resonate with many actors who continue to struggle against unequal treatment.
Women in Lead Roles in Movies
Let’s shake up our memory and remember one Female-led movie, umm Barbie! Just one, Yes. Compared to many Films Men-centric, we tend to see few once in a while women-centric films in the industry. Also, quick trivia, Margot Robbie didn’t get nominated for Oscars, for her role in Barbie but well, Ryan Gosling got nominated for ‘Ken.’
Mindy Kaling, the renowned actress, producer, and writer, who has gained recognition for her work on "The Office" and other hit shows, recently opened up about her experiences navigating the male-dominated world of Hollywood decision-making. Despite her great skill and achievements, Kaling disclosed that she frequently has people question or marginalised her choices, something she feels might not happen if she were a man.
The gender gap in the entertainment industry affects casting, pay, and general representation in addition to decision-making positions. Even with the popularity of female-driven movies like "Barbie," "Wonder Woman," and "Frozen," women are still underrepresented as main characters and protagonists in mainstream movies.
In addition, the problem is made worse by the underrepresentation of women in important creative positions like directors, writers, and producers. If the storytelling process isn't led by diverse voices and perspectives, the industry runs the risk of being monotonous stories that don't connect with a wide range of viewers. If films don’t connect, what is the need of those films then?
Moreover, it was Initiatives like #TimesUp and #MeToo that have sparked conversations about gender inequality in Hollywood and prompted industry-wide introspection and reform.
Trolling and Mocking
One concerning aspect of gender bias in the entertainment industry is the frequent mockery and ridicule directed towards female actresses. These gifted women encounter needless obstacles and scrutiny just because of their gender, whether it be in the form of disparaging comments, stereotyped depictions, or unjust criticism of their looks or skills.
Olivia Colman revealed that the women are still judged more harshly than men,
"If a woman swears, people act shocked. F*ck off! Women are human – funny, filthy, loving, caring – just like men," she said on a recent podcast.
"The women [in the film] are looked at and judged and, unfortunately, that still exists. Trolling is something they did even then, but in the form of letter writing."
In addition to undermining their ability and accomplishments, this culture of mockery feeds negative stereotypes and strengthens the power structures already in place in the industry. It serves as a sobering reminder that, despite some advancements, Hollywood still has a long way to go in fostering an environment that is welcoming and considerate of all of its performers.
Compared to younger actors, older actors in Hollywood frequently struggle to find roles, which is blatant ageism. The underrepresentation of older actors, especially women over 40, in major roles is a particularly glaring example of this bias. Regretfully, there hasn't been much advancement in Hollywood's portrayal of women, minorities, people with disabilities, or people over 45.
Let's not forget BOLLYWOOD
Turning heads to our own Bollywood, the picture is not very different. It’s like getting a déjà vu!
But we have to give some credit to Bollywood for being generous for producing and promoting women-centric films, we have seen a whole lot of female led films releasing recently like Superhit Film Gangubai Kathiawadi.
However, let’s talk about what’s usually the tradition of our desi film industry, as per the industry mindset these actresses are merely seen as an eye-candy, ‘forcing’ them to perform on the so called item songs, or giving them roles of just a love interest of their heroes. And the pay disparity is humongous!! Take example of SRK’s recent release Pathan, Srk was paid a whopping amount of 35 crores, and Deepika with 10 crores. Saw the difference? Huge Right!
Moving on to Ageism, We have all seen actors play sons, and actresses who play mothers are typically in the same age range. And on the big screen, actors fall in love with women half their age. There are plenty of examples, but the problem is rarely discussed!
©️ Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved Powered by Vygr Media.
