04 February 2023 , 14:51
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Claire Foy has said she was "very upset" that she got paid less than her The Crown co-star.
She said it was "heartbreaking" discovering Matt Smith was paid more for her but subsequently it has had an "amazing impact".
The 38-year-old’s performance as a young Queen Elizabeth won her two Emmys and a Golden Globe, however in 2018 producers revealed it earned her less than Smith’s portrayal of the Duke of Edinburgh.
Claire first heard about the pay gap when it made national headlines.
She said that at the time she didn't let herself get too angry at the time.
The Crown's Helena Bonham Carter urges controversial Netflix show to 'end now'
Claire was paid less than Matt Smith (PA)
Claire said she was upset (Netflix)The actress told the Guardian’s Saturday magazine: "I wasn’t shocked. I was very upset. Not like, boohoo, crying upset. I was very upset."
Claire added: "I really love my industry, and I think it is made up of lots of honourable, incredibly talented, brilliant, imaginative, amazing people.
"Sometimes, you see something, you hear something, you notice something, or something happens to you, and you just go, ‘Oh God, what am I doing? Why am I doing it? Should I be part of this?’. I found it really heart-breaking."
Claire won two Emmys and a Golden Globe (Publicity Picture)The Crown controversy came shortly after US actress Michelle Williams made headlines when it was disclosed that actor Mark Wahlberg earned 1.5 million dollars (£1.1 million) to refilm portions of All The Money In The World to erase actor Kevin Spacey, while Williams reportedly received less than 1,000 dollars (£728).
Wahlberg announced that he was donating the money to Time’s Up which is an initiative to help those who have suffered sexual assault, harassment or abuse in the workplace.
Left Bank Pictures publicly apologised to both Foy and Smith and took responsibility for setting the salaries before pledging to do better.
Claire has since reprised her role in the fifth series of the showFoy said the pay row has subsequently had an "amazing impact" because "you can’t lie now".
She has since reprised her role in the fifth series of the show, appearing during a flashback episode showing the late Queen’s visit to Clydebank in 1953 to launch the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The Crown saw Foy portray the Queen in the first two series of the Netflix show before Olivia Colman took over for series three and four, while Imelda Staunton is the star of series five and six.