Olivia Colman Discusses Hollywood Gender Pay Gap

Oscar-winning British actress Olivia Colman has spoken out about the gender pay gap in Hollywood.

In an interview with CNN, Coleman expressed awareness of the disparity, stating, “I’m very aware that if I was Oliver Colman, I’d be earning a… lot more than I am.”

She emphasized that she would earn “a lot more” for her films if she were a man.

dir=”ltr”>Olivia Colman: I'd be paid more if I was Oliver, actress says https://t.co/IV2g3WJLRh

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 25, 2024

Besides, Colman highlighted a specific instance of pay disparity, indicating a staggering 12,000% difference and urging, “Do the maths.”

The issue of equal pay has persisted in Hollywood for over a decade despite ongoing discussions.

Additionally, the latest Forbes report on the top 10 Hollywood earners in 2023 revealed a star gender disparity, with only two women, Jennifer Aniston and Margot Robbie, making the list.

Consequently, in her conversation with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Colman emphasized the historical drawing power of women at the box office, asserting that executives’ claims about male actors drawing audiences have been outdated for decades.

” dir=”ltr”>“If I was ‘Oliver’ Colman, I'd be earning a f*** of a lot more than I am.” I ask Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman about the gender pay gap in Hollywood. “I know of one pay disparity which is a 12,000% difference,” she tells me. pic.twitter.com/A0qPHIPK4N

— Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) March 23, 2024

Moreover, Colman, who rose to Hollywood prominence in 2019 after winning the Best Actress Oscar for her role in “The Favourite,” expressed deep disappointment in the persistent pay gap between men and women in the industry.

She criticized the outdated notion that male actors are solely responsible for drawing audiences.

The issue of equal pay gained significant attention in 2014 following the Sony email hack, which revealed stark discrepancies in pay between male and female actors, notably Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams for American Hustle.

In continuation Lawerence, wrote “When the Sony hack happened and I found out how much less I was being paid… I didn’t get mad at Sony. I got mad at myself.”

dir=”ltr”>Jennifer Lawrence breaks her silence on the Sony hack and Hollywood sexism http://t.co/YDundg1XR5 pic.twitter.com/CW73QXabbf

— Indy People (@TheIndyPeople) October 13, 2015

Additionally, The #MeToo Movement further shed light on the mistreatment of women in Hollywood, amplifying discussions about pay disparity and representation.

Colman’s remarks underscore the ongoing nature of the gender pay gap issue in Hollywood. 

Researchers from USC Annenberg emphasized the persistent inequality, noting that only 30 of the top 100 films in 2023 featured a female-identified actor in a lead or co-lead role. 

This data suggests that equal pay and representation were problems a decade ago and remain significant issues today.