There’s another thing to be ticked about in Hollywood. Claire Foy, acclaimed star of Netflix’s The Crown, was paid less than male co-star Matt Smith, though Smith has what would easily be considered a supporting role to Foy’s central performance as Queen Elizabeth II. (h/t TIME)
Executives behind the show confirmed the Prince Philip actor was paid more than the Queen herself. We know from Variety that Foy earned about $40,000 per episode, and while we don’t know Smith’s earnings, we know that The Crown is one of the most expensive shows on television, with an estimated cost per episode of $7 million.
Smith reportedly made more money than Foy due to their relative fame at the beginning of the show. Smith was coming off of a turn as the eleventh Doctor on the BBC series Doctor Who, and Foy was a relatively obscure pick as Elizabeth II. However, since The Crown aired, Foy has earned a Golden Globe for her performance, as well as an Emmy nomination.
Both actors are done with the series; the show has advanced enough chronologically that new actors will be cast for Philip and Elizabeth for the third season on.