As Priyanka Chopra features in the annual Forbes list of highly-paid actors second time in a row, we attempt to trace back to the time actresses were first mentioned in the list
The Forbes list of highest-paid actors and actresses is an annual affair, which goes on to feature your favourite top stars irrespective of how their film/TV show fared that year. It’s all about the popularity and brand they bring in, especially considering Sofia Vergara – the highest paid actress this year – features in a TV show that used to win awards once upon a time.
Paid $41.5 million before taxes and fees, Sofia is also the face of many products and holds stakes there. So, her Forbes listing doesn’t really come as a surprise.
Closer home, Indians since last year, have been rooting for two actresses to feature in the list – Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone. While Deepika is still starting out, Priyanka has already established her place there, with her show Quantico and the big films she’s been signing. This year, too, she is in the list, ranked number 8 and earning $10 million.
Women featuring in the highest-paid lists is a relatively new concept, especially in the movie world. This year, there’s also Emma Stone, who won her first ever Oscar for La La Land, and featured as a highest-paid actress, earning $26 million as of June 2017.
But when pitted next to her male counterparts, she ranks 15.
Forbes this year, compiled a list of highest-paid actors and actresses, featuring 29 names. Nine were women, the rest were men including Mark Wahlberg – ranked number one. And no, he didn’t win awards this year.
It’s hard to trace back to the first ever actress who was paid more than the actor, let alone get paid equally. The Hollywood pay gap debate gained steam when in 2015, actress Patricia Arquette turned her Oscar acceptance speech into a call for wage equity for women.
“To every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. It is our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America!”
Wikipedia‘s list of the highest-paid actors and actresses ever, features 21 of them. Out of the 21, the list features just two actresses – Sandra Bullock and Cameron Diaz. While Tom Hanks made it to the list in 1994 with Forrest Gump and Keanu Reeves upped the ante in 2003 with The Matrix films, it wasn’t until 2011 that Diaz made it to the list in 2011 with Bad Teacher, with a total income of $42,000,000. And Sandra Bullock with Gravity in 2013, with a total income of $70,000,000 plus.
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Forbes does point out a fairly relevant point on how critical recognition doesn’t necessarily correlate with higher earnings. Actresses such as Nicole Kidman (for Big Little Lies), Viola Davis (How To Get Away With Murder, Fences) haven’t made it to the top 10 list.
The Forbes annual salary list of actors and actresses, while it does feed the public with news of how rich these artistes really are, the real highlight (that is often missed) is the fact that the pay gap is still thriving. Even when we herald films such as Wonder Woman, Rogue One, Alien: Covenant and Beauty and the Beast – all driven by women – the highest paid actress is still miles away from her male counterpart.
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