Colman says the higher pay for men is rooted in the idea that male actors attract bigger audiences – and therefore bring in more money. “That has not been the case for decades. Yet they still like to use that as a reason not to pay women so much,” says Colman in an interview about her latest film Wicked Little Letters.
“I also had it happen in a production in which I wanted to earn the same amount. I was shocked by the difference, it was much more than I expected,” says actress Malou Gorter, known for her roles in series such as The Jewish Council and Eyeballs, and chairman of the interest group for actors ACT. “I found out because I started asking around. The actor earned more because he would make more money.”
“It has been a long-known and frequently heard complaint,” says actress Manoushka Zeegelaar Breeveld, who starred in the Netflix series Dirty Lines. She knows real-life examples in which a woman had the same role as a male actor and yet earned less.
Gorter calls it ‘a slippery area’ because salaries go hand in hand with how much money an actor makes. “But you can never impose a schedule there,” she says. “It’s debatable. There is also such a thing as talent and experience, which play a role in determining someone’s salary. Another factor is that negotiating is seen as annoying by women and as ambitious by men.”
Lack of transparency in salaries
Vrouw in Beeld, a foundation that promotes women in the audiovisual sector, sees, based on anecdotal evidence, that it is also a problem in the Netherlands. Founder Esther Schmidt says that they are currently conducting a study into income differences among cast and crew in film productions. The lack of transparency about salaries makes it difficult to substantiate the anecdotal evidence with figures.
According to both actresses, that is why research is so important. “If you can’t make it solid, it doesn’t exist. Then it’s a feeling,” says Zeegelaar Breeveld. “Based on practice, I can say with certainty that it is so, but without figures nothing changes.”
Zeegelaar Breeveld says she does not know whether she earns less than male actors because salaries are not discussed in the Netherlands. “No one knows what we earn, there is no openness about that. Agents have the most insight into the income differences. My agent has sometimes said: I know you earn less.” Gorter also indicates that not talking about salaries is a problem. In addition, many contracts state that you cannot comment on your financial situation. “I always try to get that out.”
In recent years, more and more women have spoken out about unequal salaries, they notice at Vrouw in Beeld. Male actors also do this. According to Schmidt, a Dutch actor did this when he understood from a female co-star that she earned less. Both actresses confirm this story, without naming the actor. Even though more people are speaking out, the taboo to talk about money is still there.
Lots of prejudices
However, it remains uncertain whether this will actually change anything. Because the pay gap within the film industry is a complex problem. Stubborn prejudices, such as that a male actor attracts more visitors and viewers, make change difficult. Schmidt: “It is an old-fashioned assumption on the basis of which our industry still functions.” Ambition and potential are also seen more quickly in men and risk is seen more quickly in women.
In addition, the fact that there are more male than female roles perpetuates such prejudices. According to Gorter, this unequal distribution is because many roles have been invented by men, who often employ many women in the service of a man. “We are very often cast as a mother, as a love interest, or as a bitch.”
“When I receive an application stating that I am the wife of the leading character, I first look at what kind of woman she is. To what extent is she a personality? Can people identify with the woman? Is she only serving ? I often say no to projects.”
Two years ago, Vrouw in Beeld published a study into the representation of women in the sector. It showed that 42 percent of women get the leading and supporting roles compared to 58 percent of men. “Especially in commercial productions made by streaming services, commercial broadcasters and commercial producers, the so-called ‘stardom’ of well-known actors is almost always used,” says Schmidt. “Because well-known actors are important for the marketing and promotion of films and series. Very often these are male actors.”
The actresses argue for more awareness about the content of women’s roles and better representation of women, especially women of color. “For white actresses it is a condition in this industry, but for actresses of color it is an even bigger condition,” says Zeegelaar Breeveld.
“The reins are in the hands of the men, that is still the problem,” says Gorter. “I know it’s a long road, but I remain hopeful.”
