When you're an actress in Hollywood, one question that is bound to come up in interviews is the perception of the gender pay gap.
Why?
Because last year's highest-paid actress, Jennifer Lawrence (who was also paid less than her American Hustle co-stars) made £23 million less than the world's top-paid actor, Robert Downey Jr.
Because only 20 per cent of Hollywood executives are women, according to The New York Times.
Because just four of the 435 Academy Award nominations for Best Director since 1927 have gone to women, with Kathryn Bigelow being the only one to actually win.
But in The Hollywood Reporter's latest 'Actress Roundtable' series, featuring seven A-list stars including Emma Stone, Natalie Portman, Taraji P. Henson, ELLE November cover star Amy Adams controversially said she doesn't want to be 'a headline anymore about pay equality'.
But before you conclude that she's avoiding the issue, let us point out that instead, that Amy Adams made the very valid point that while women should be vocal about the issues that affect them, there are other people who should be held accountable for the gender pay gap becoming an issue in the first place.
Namely the producers and film-makers, who are largely the men.
Adams told the interviewer: 'Who you should be asking is the Producer Roundtable: 'Do you think minorities are underrepresented? Do you think women are underpaid?'
'I think the real question should be asked of the people who make those decisions,' she added.
Members of the film community such as producers, script writers and directors should be held accountable for the underrepresentation of minorities and the gender pay gap in Hollywood.
Adams is a champion for equal pay for male and female actresses. In last month's ELLE issue, the Arrival actress opened up about her support for equal pay, but revealed the issue is far more complicated than addressing a balance of incomes.
'The negotiation comes to a standstill and I have to make a choice, which a lot of women do. I can walk away. But I choose not to…This is an issue not just about women's pay; we need to work on how women are viewed in society and then the pay will be reflected in that…Right now time is more important to me.
So that's what I negotiate because any time I'm working, I'm not spending with my daughter,' she added.
As a caveat, it's important to remember that until the problem goes away, it's probably good for everyone to be discussing issues of gender inequality, in order for us to see any real change.
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
