The Crown star gets a pay boost
Series co-star Matt Smith suggests controversial salary disparity resolved
Matt Smith has hinted his The Crown co-star Claire Foy received a pay raise after the gender pay gap on the show was revealed.
The pay equality controversy began in March, when the show’s executive producers, Susie Mackie and Andy Harries, made the admission during a panel event in Jerusalem, noting that former Doctor Who star Smith, who played Prince Philip, earned more because he was a bigger name than Foy, who has won awards for playing Queen Elizabeth II.
The pay disparity led to the creation of a petition calling for Smith to donate the difference in their salaries to the #TimesUp movement, which campaigns against gender inequality and sexual harassment. Now Smith has spoken for the first time about the controversy, and suggested during his interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the salary difference was quickly resolved.
“Claire is one of my best friends, and I believe that we should be paid equally and fairly,” he said. “I support her completely, and I am pleased that it was resolved and they made amends for that because that’s what needed to happen.
“Going forward, I think we should all bear in mind we need to strive to make this better, a more even playing field, for everyone involved — but not just in our industry, in all industries.”
Despite Smith’s remarks, Netflix and the show’s producers have yet to confirm whether or not they paid Foy more. But the controversy did prompt bosses to pledge pay equality in future seasons of the show, stating: “Going forward, no one gets paid more than the Queen.”
Foy, who won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II on the hit series, will be replaced by Olivia Colman for seasons 3 and 4.