Throughout the rich history of film, there have been countless stars who have risen to remarkable fame, adoration, and reverence within the industry. Yet, many of the late great talents of the silver screen were not always given the reward or pay they deserved for their hard work and contribution. This article is dedicated to those who paved the way and left an invaluable legacy, even when they were financially undervalued.
Highlighted Actors Who Were Underpaid for Major Roles
Below are some of the most iconic, inspiring, and defining roles that were undeniably mistreated financially. Taking into account not only their extraordinary talent but also other external factors, here are the top actors who were underpaid for significant roles.
- Judy Garland – The Wizard of Oz
For her outstanding portrayal of Dorothy in the 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland received the fair sum of $500 a week for six weeks. What wasn’t fair were the extenuating circumstances that served to greatly devalue her role. In her memoirs, Garland reported how MGM kept her on a strict diet, to which her pay was directly tied. For every pound she gained, she was fined $25.
- Sophie Turner – The X-Men Franchise
Considering the mega-franchise her character, Jean Grey, was part of, Sophie Turner was shockingly paid the measly sum of $150k for the 2016 film, X-Men: Apocalypse. She was the sixth highest-paid actor in the movie and earned 10 times less than the highest-paid actor. She was paid the same amount for the entire trilogy, which is even more shocking considering the financial gains the films made.
- Mary Steenburgen – Back to the Future 3
Another classic movie that didn’t pay its actors as it should have was the 90s classic, Back to the Future Part III. For her performance as Clara Clayton – a crucial character in the film – Mary Steenburgen was only paid $75,000. It’s widely accepted that this was due to her restricted success in the industry at the time and the fact that female leads were paid a fraction of what their male counterparts were.
- Julia Roberts – Pretty Woman
Arguably one of the most iconic movies of the ’90s and the character that propelled Julia Roberts to great fame, Pretty Woman didn’t give her the recognition she deserved. Roberts was paid only $300,000 for her starring role, which falls painfully short when compared to what leads like Richard Gere were earning around the same time.
- Bruce Lee – Game Of Death
No list of underrated actors is complete without mentioning Bruce Lee. He secured a contract to star in the 1978 movie, Game of Death, for $25,000 – a deal that we now know to be grossly inferior to what his co-stars were paid at the time.
Impact on Society Today
These actors should be remembered for what their performances meant to society. The figures listed above unfairly reflect the contribution they made to their respective films and the crass undervaluing of their place in popular culture.
Fortunately, this type of sour inequity has been addressed in more recent years with the rise of the “equal pay” movement and the decision-making of empowered casts and producers to compensate talent fairly and without gender bias.
This article has highlighted some of the greatest actings who, while they achieved remarkable success, were sadly underpaid for their notable roles. Regarded as pioneers and trailblazers in the industry, the work of these actors has had a lasting effect on popular culture, society and other actors today. Hopefully, their sacrifice, suffering, and mistreatment are now a lost relic of the past.
