Michelle Williams ‘paralysed’ after learning she was paid $1,000 while male co-star got $1.5m

By MiNDFOOD

Photo Credits: REUTERS
Photo Credits: REUTERS

Michelle Williams has spoken out about the personal hurt she felt discovering she was paid $1000 when co-star, Mark Wahlberg, was paid $1.5 million.

Left speechless. Michelle Williams was “paralysed in feelings of futility” after learning that her All the Money in the World costar Mark Wahlberg was paid significantly more than her for reshoots on the movie.

Wahlberg was paid $1.5 million to return to set for about a week-and-a-half, while Williams received a paltry $80 per diem in comparison. According to Vulture, Wahlberg was already paid eight times more than Williams to begin with, despite their equal billing.

Speaking in Washington D.C. on April 2 during a hearing about closing the gender pay gap, Williams said, “This came as no surprise to me, it simply reinforced my life-learned belief that equality is not an inalienable right and that women would always be working just as hard for less money while shouldering more responsibility at home.”

She continued: “I’ve been a working actress since the age of 12. I’ve been accredited by my industry at the highest levels and that still didn’t translate to equal compensation.”

Williams and her friend and actress Jessica Chastain began publicising the pay gap on Twitter, leading to Wahlberg donating the money to Time’s Up.

Since then, Williams said she had been treated differently on film projects.

“I could tell my workplace was shifting. Rather than being grasped too tightly or hugged for too long as a morning greeting, my hand was shaken, and I was looked squarely in the eye, and I was welcomed to my Monday morning,” she said.

“On the job I just completed two weeks ago, I have to tell you, I was paid equally with my male co-star.”

Read our exclusive interview with Michelle Williams in which she opens up on her acting process, musical theatre, and how to live your most authentic life.

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