On Wednesday night, two-time Academy Award winner, Hilary Swank sat down with a panel or women during an episode of Chelsea Handler’s Chelsea. Swank shared a revealing story about the reality of the gender pay-gap in Hollywood. Here’s what she said:
So, when I did, Boys Don’t Cry I was 24 years old. I made $3000 dollars, and in order to have health insurance you had to make $5000. So I didn’t even know that I didn’t have health insurance, until I went in and tried to get a prescription filled and they said, “That’s $160” and I said, “Um, did you try my insurance?” and they said, “Uh-huh.” I had an Academy Award and no health insurance.
Then, I get offered my second Academy Award. … A couple movies later, I get offered a movie, but the male hadn’t had any critical success—but had been in a movie where he was “Hot.” He got offered 10 million dollars, and I got offered $500,000.
What’s the Million Dollar Baby supposed to do with an offer like that? She walked. The crew apparently ended up hiring a newer actress who took the part for $50,000.
