Breaking the Silence: Claire Foy Discusses Unequal Pay on 'The Crown'

Just days after the revelation that Claire Foy, the lead actress on The Crown, earned less than her male co-star Matt Smith during the series’ first two seasons, Foy is speaking candidly about the situation. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Claire admitted, “I’m surprised because I’m at the center of it, and anything that I’m at the center of like that is very very odd, and feels very very out of ordinary.”

“But I’m not [surprised about the interest in the story] in the sense that it was a female-led drama. I’m not surprised that people saw [the story] and went, ‘Oh, that’s a bit odd.’ But I know that Matt feels the same as I do, that it’s odd to find yourself at the center [of a story] that you didn’t particularly ask for,” Claire explained. A few days ago, the producers of The Crown issued a public apology to Claire and Matt for the pay disparity.

Read also:
Meghan Markle And Prince Harry Found Sanctuary At Best Friend Jessica Mulroneys Home

Producers Step Up: Apology and Commitment to Fair Pay

“We want to apologize to both Claire Foy and to Matt Smith, brilliant actors and friends, who have found themselves at the center of a media storm this week through no fault of their own. Claire and Matt are incredibly gifted actors who, along with the wider cast on The Crown, have worked tirelessly to bring our characters to life with compassion and integrity,” stated Left Bank Pictures in an official statement obtained by E! News.

“As the producers of The Crown, we at Left Bank Pictures are responsible for budgets and salaries; the actors are not aware of who gets what, and cannot be held personally responsible for the pay of their colleagues. We understand and appreciate the conversation which is rightly being played out across society, and we are absolutely united with the fight for fair pay, free of gender bias, and for a rebalancing of the industry’s treatment of women, both those in front of the camera and for those behind the scenes,” the message continued.

View this post on Instagram
Elizabeth and Philip. A partnership that endures. #TheCrown
A post shared by The Crown (@thecrownnetflix) on Dec 30, 2017 at 7:41am PST

Left Bank Pictures: Commitment to Change

“We all have a responsibility to do what we can to ensure that these issues are tackled, and as a leading production company, we want to make our contribution to the debate. As company policy, we are engaged in conversations with ERA 50:50 and going forward are keen to talk to Times Up UK; organizations which are working to ensure all women have a voice,” Left Bank Pictures concluded.

Read also:
Remembering Mark Healy How Roseannes Reboot Honors Glenn Quinns Legacy

Behind the Pay Gap: A Look at the Numbers

The pay disparity between Claire and Matt was uncovered during a recent The Crown panel discussion. One of the show’s producers, Suzanne Mackie, revealed that Claire — who portrayed a young Queen Elizabeth on the series — was paid less than Matt due to his established star power before landing his role as Prince Philip. Before joining The Crown, Matt starred as The Doctor on the BBC’s Doctor Who from 2010 until 2014. On the other hand, when Claire was cast, she was relatively unknown, with only minor roles on British TV shows such as Doctors, The Promise, Crossbones, and Wolf Hall under her belt.

“Going forward, no one gets paid more than the Queen,” Mackie declared after her salary confession. According to Variety, Claire earned around $40,000 per episode during Seasons 1 and 2 of The Crown. The exact amount Matt was paid remains undisclosed.

View this post on Instagram
Love or duty? Power or pride? #TheCrown
A post shared by The Crown (@thecrownnetflix) on Nov 25, 2017 at 8:41am PST

Looking Ahead: The Crown's Third Season

As the show prepares to enter its third season, scheduled to start filming in July, the cast is set for a change. Claire will pass the torch to Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth, while Helena Bonham Carter will take over Vanessa Kirby’s role as Princess Margaret. The identity of the actor who will portray Prince Philip is still a mystery, but British actor Hugh Laurie is reportedly in talks for the role.

Stay connected with our Facebook group for all the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Prince William, and other royal news!