14 DAY TRIAL // The other day, for the first time since last November’s Sony Hack, Jennifer Lawrence opened up on the highly publicized fact that she and Amy Adams were paid considerably less than their male co-stars in “American Hustle,” even though they were all billed equally.
She didn’t blame Sony, the studio producing and distributing the movie, for it and she certainly didn’t blame her co-stars Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Renner. She blamed herself: for not being a better negotiator and for not daring to speak up and claim what she knew she deserved.
Bradley Cooper praises Jennifer
You can see Jennifer’s op-ed in full below, as it was included in Lena Dunham’s newsletter, Lenny. The Oscar-winning actress admitted that her problems weren’t exactly relatable, but insisted the experience had helped her learn a very valuable lesson that she cared to share with the world: women should fight for equal pay if they’re worth it.
She also admitted that her reluctance in asking for more money (millions that she didn’t need, as she put it) was due to her fear in coming across as “spoiled” or “difficult,” which is something that happens frequently in Hollywood with women who dare to speak their mind on whatever topic.
Lawrence probably thought that the industry would turn on her for saying these things, but there’s at least one thing she can count on: Bradley Cooper’s support.
Cooper starred with her both in “Silver Linings Playbook” and the aforementioned “American Hustle,” and he tells E! News that what she did was admirable.
“One thing I could say is that’s interesting because if you think that you only deserve a certain amount and that’s not correct, it’s about changing that mindset and sticking up for yourself the way that Sienna [Miller] did,” he says. “So that’s a great thing.”
Actresses are taking a stand against pay inequality
The mention of Sienna Miller’s name above is no coincidence: earlier this year, she walked out on a planned Broadway production when she found out that she would be paid half of what her male co-star would get, when the play only had the two of them in it.
She asked for a raise and was denied one, so she decided to drop out of the project altogether.
Miller and Lawrence aren’t the only 2 actresses to speak out on the topic of the pay inequality in Hollywood: Charlize Theron, Meryl Streep, Gwyneth Paltrow, Helen Mirren and many others more have also gone public with their experiences, in the hope to bring about a much-needed change.