CLAIRE WAS 'DEEPLY HURT' BY GENDER PAY GAP

Actor Claire Foy says that she felt compelled to speak out about the pay gap between herself and The Crown co-actor Matt Smith to open doors for others fighting for fair play. Foy became a figurehead of sorts for those fighting for gender equality when she spoke out about the fact she was paid much less than Smith — even though she was The Queen to his Prince Philip on the drama. The revelation forced the show’s bosses to publicly apologise to both stars for inadvertently putting them in a very awkward position.

Now, in a magazine, Foy has said that the whole drama was upsetting and she had moments when she wished she didn’t have to be the one making waves, reports aceshowbiz.com.

She said, “I was deeply hurt by it because I’d been working on that show for two years. I loved everybody on it. And then I realised, ‘There’s been a big, fat, dirty secret that nobody’s ever talked about’. But then there was also that thing (of being) an inadvertent spokesperson. Why did it have to be me? I could have said nothing.”

She added, “And I think everyone would have preferred that. But I thought, ‘If I do that, I will be cheating myself and all the other women I know’.”

Foy recently dismissed reports suggesting she had been offered $225,000 in back pay to settle the gender pay gap on The Crown.

I had been working on the show for two years. And I realised, ‘There’s been a big, fat, dirty secret that nobody’s ever talked about’.

CLAIRE FOY ACTOR

PHOTO: CHARLES SYKES/ INVISION/AP Despite playing Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, producers revealed in March, Claire Foy had been paid significantly less than her costar Matt Smith