Olivia Colman: I'd be paid more if I was Oliver, says actress - as she hits out at gender pay gap

Olivia Colman spoke out against the unfairness of gender pay gap, pointing out that if she were male, her earnings would be significantly higher than what she currently makes.

The actress who won an Oscar and played Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown, shared her opinion on the common belief that male actors are the ones who attract more people to movie theaters. She criticized this notion.

During an interview on CNN's Christiane Amanpour show, Colman, who is 50 years old, was questioned about the level of respect women receive in Hollywood.

According to her, studies indicate that women have always been popular among film audiences. However, she expressed frustration over the unfair payment gap, as men have historically been paid more under the belief that they bring in more viewers. In reality, this outdated assumption has not held true for many years.

However, they still prefer to use it as an excuse for not providing the same level of pay to women as they do to their male colleagues.

Colman expressed that she is conscious of the fact that if she went by the name Oliver Coleman, she would be receiving a significantly higher income than what she currently earns. She also noted that she is aware of a pay gap that amounts to a staggering 12,000%, and urged others to do the calculations themselves.

She appeared on a television program to discuss her latest movie, Wicked Little Letters, which is based on the real-life incidents of malicious anonymous letters that targeted the town of Littlehampton in West Sussex during the 1920s.

According to Forbes' yearly list of top earning actors, Adam Sandler made the most money in 2023, raking in a whopping $73 million (approximately £57 million). This was largely thanks to his hit Netflix movie, Murder Mystery 2, and his successful stand-up comedy tour.

Margot Robbie made $59 million (£46 million) from her role in the hugely successful movie Barbie, which she both starred in and produced. This made her the second-highest earner in the industry.

Jennifer Aniston, known for her role in the popular TV series Friends, was the sole female representative on the top 10 list, coming in at sixth place with an impressive $42 million (£33 million) earnings.

Tom Cruise came in third place for making a whopping $45 million in earnings thanks to his role in the latest Mission: Impossible film. Ryan Gosling, known for his voice work in the popular Barbie franchise, tied with Matt Damon, who played Oppenheimer, for fourth place with $43 million each.

The remaining members of the top 10 are comprised of Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington, Jason Statham, and Ben Affleck.

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Colman, the recipient of an Academy Award in 2018 for her role in "The Favourite," has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the unequal treatment and wage gaps prevalent in the entertainment industry.

Last month, during an interview with the Radio Times podcast, she stated that female-led movies such as Barbie, Bridesmaids, and Thelma & Louise have garnered tremendous box office revenues.

According to her, there is a common belief that men receive higher wage due to attracting more audience. But she totally disagrees with this notion. It is a blatant lie and can be easily verified with the box office data. She cannot comprehend why this topic is still a debatable point.