Jessica Chastain is making sure her friends are getting the equal pay they deserve.
Octavia Spencer confirmed this to be true as she revealed recently that her former The Help costar helped her get five times her salary for their upcoming movie together. Color us impressed.
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While speaking at the Women Breaking Barriers panel at the Sundance Film Festival, an emotional Spencer stated:
“About 15 months ago, Jessica Chastain├óΓé¼┬ªcontacted me and said, ├óΓé¼╦£I want us to do a comedy.’ I’m like, ├óΓé¼╦£Yeah!’ She called me six months later, which would have been last March, and we were talking about pay equity with men and women. She was like, ├óΓé¼╦£It’s time that women get paid as much as men.’ I’m like, ├óΓé¼╦£Yeah Jessica, it’s time!’ We were dropping F-bombs and getting it all out there.”
Although Octavia was down for the cause, she had to inform her pal that, historically, women of color make far less than white women. She continued:
“And then I said, ├óΓé¼╦£But here’s the thing, women of color on that spectrum, we make far less than white women. So, if we’re gonna have that conversation about pay equity, we gotta bring the women of color to the table.’ And I told her my story, and we talked numbers, and she was quiet, and she said she had no idea that that’s what it was like for women of color.”
However, Jessica didn’t just take this as a learning moment as she made sure the Oscar winner was paid properly. The Shape Of Water star dished:
“I love that woman, because she’s walking the walk and she’s actually talking the talk. She said, ├óΓé¼╦£Octavia we’re gonna get you paid on this film. You and I are gonna be tied together. We’re gonna be favored nations, and we’re gonna make the same thing.’ Fast forward to last week, we’re making five times what we asked for.”
YASSSSS. Now that’s girl power!!
Be sure to watch Octavia’s words on the matter for yourself (below)!
[Image via WENN.]
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