Robin Wright Fights for Equal Pay on House of Cards

Actress Robin Wright, known for her roles in "Forrest Gump," "The Princess Bride," and "Wonder Woman," revealed that she had to take on additional roles as a producer and director to earn the same salary as her co-star Kevin Spacey on the Netflix series "House of Cards." Wright, who played Claire Underwood in the series, was initially told that she would not be paid equally because she had not won an Academy Award. Despite this, she fought for equal pay, eventually securing a salary close to Spacey's reported $500,000 per episode.

Wright's experience highlights the long-standing issue of wage discrimination in Hollywood, where actresses often have to fight for equal pay compared to their male counterparts. Wright's character, Claire Underwood, became as popular as Spacey's Frank Underwood, but she had to take on additional responsibilities to earn a comparable salary. Wright was nominated for three Golden Globes and six Primetime Emmys for her role, as well as two Emmys for her producing work.

Wright's fight for equal pay was not an isolated incident. Other successful women, such as Wall Street titan Sallie Krawcheck and actress Gillian Anderson, have also spoken out about wage discrimination. Krawcheck, the founder of Ellevest, has been vocal about the need for financial equality between men and women. Anderson, who starred in "The X-Files," revealed that she earned less than her co-star David Duchovny during the 1990s and was offered half of what her male counterpart was paid when the series was revived in 2015.

Wright's experience serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equal pay in the entertainment industry. Despite her success and popularity, Wright had to go above and beyond to secure a salary comparable to her male co-star. Her story, along with those of other successful women, highlights the need for continued advocacy and action to address wage discrimination in Hollywood and beyond.