Hilary Swank, the acclaimed American actress, has revealed a shocking incident regarding the gender pay gap in Hollywood.
After winning two Academy Awards for Best Actress, she was offered a salary 20 times less than a male actor who had not received critical acclaim.
Swank won her first Oscar for her role in Boys Don't Cry in 1999 and her second for Million Dollar Baby in 2004.
However, despite these achievements, one studio considered her to be far less valuable than a male actor who was seen as “hot” but lacked critical success.
The disparity in pay began when Swank was paid only $3,000 (£2,500) for her breakthrough role in Boys Don't Cry.
But what shocked her even more was being offered a mere $500,000 (£410k) for her next role after winning her second Academy Award, while the male lead, who had no critical success, was offered $10 million (£8.2m).
Unable to accept such a vast pay difference, Swank declined the role, which was eventually given to another actress who was paid even less, receiving $450,000 (£370k).
During a conversation on Chelsea Handler's Netflix show with other female filmmakers, Swank shared her story.
The discussion also included Selma director Ava DuVernay, who talked about a male peer advancing faster in the industry.
Given Swank's impressive Oscar pedigree, her experience stands out as one of the most shocking instances of the gender pay gap in Hollywood.
Other actresses, such as Jennifer Lawrence and Amanda Seyfried, have also spoken out about being offered less than their male counterparts in recent years.
Emma Stone, star of La La Land, recently mentioned in an interview with Vogue that she has been fortunate enough to receive equal pay to her male co-stars in her recent films.
However, she emphasized the element of luck in achieving this equality.
Swank's career post-Oscar wins includes films like PS I Love You and The Black Dahlia.
In 2016, she worked on the animated adventure Spark.
The issue of gender pay disparity continues to be a prominent topic in the film industry, with actresses using their platforms to advocate for equal pay.
Swank's story serves as a reminder that even after achieving the highest recognition in the industry, women still face significant inequality when it comes to compensation.
