Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Nadia Khomami Arts and culture correspondent

Women are all over the big screen – but pay gap persists in UK cultural sector

Olivia Colman said she would have earned far more for her latest film if she was Oliver Colman.
Olivia Colman said she would have earned far more for her latest film if she was Oliver Colman. Photograph: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

It’s been a banner year for women in film, from Margot Robbie’s turn as Barbie to Emma Stone’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Bella Baxter in Poor Things. Even Maestro, Bradley Cooper’s ode to Leonard Bernstein, centred the story on the composer’s wife, Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan), as much as it did the man himself.

But according to experts, improved representation on the big screen is not necessarily being reflected in the pay packets of women working in film and television. While Robbie was reportedly paid $50m for Barbie after the film’s record-breaking box office success, one harsh reality remains – female actors are generally making far less money than their male counterparts.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.