Claire Foy Denies That She Has Been Back Paid For Earning Less Than Matt Smith In "The Crown"

    In an interview with Al Arabiya English, Claire Foy said reports that she had been back paid for her work in The Crown were "not quite correct."

    Scott Bryan
    by Scott Bryan

    BuzzFeed TV Editor

    Last March, two producers of The Crown admitted that Claire Foy, who played Queen Elizabeth II in the critically acclaimed drama, had in fact been paid less than Matt Smith (Prince Phillip) for the show's first two seasons.

    Netflix

    Matt Smith was reported to have earned more for the role because of his higher profile thanks to his work on Doctor Who.

    The Crown producers then said that from Season 3, both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip would be earning the same pay. However, this would not mean an increase for Foy as she, along with the rest of the cast, are being replaced by new actors for the show's third season.

    There was a considerable backlash at the time, with people saying that Foy deserved an equal amount for the role.

    emmy @cIairesfoy

    Claire Foy CARRIED your show on her shoulders oh my GOD PAY HER WHAT SHE DESERVES

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    The Daily Mail on Sunday then reported a month later that Foy was to receive £200,000 in back payments for the pay inequality.

    John Phillips / Getty Images

    Smith was reportedly in favour of this. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter he said: "Claire is one of my best friends, and I believe that we should be paid equally and fairly and there should be equality for all."

    However, in an interview with Al Arabiya English, Foy reportedly denied that she had received a back payment. She said: "That was what was reported that I was back paid. I’ve never mentioned anything about it and neither have the producers. The fact that that is 'fact' is...not quite correct."

    DESWILLIE / Netflix

    She said that she found herself in a storm of publicity at a time when pay inequality was a hot topic in media: "It’s across the board that it became part of a bigger conversation, which is an odd place to find yourself in."

    She went on to say she’s learned from the experience:

    Robert Viglasky / Netflix

    "I realised early on that me being quiet about it or me not thinking about it in any way, and not associating myself with it, would be harmful to me and also lots of other people. It’s taught me a lot, and I’m still learning about it. I have not come out the other side and know exactly what I’m talking about. I’m still learning as much as anybody else is."

    Representatives for Foy and Left Bank Pictures did not respond to requests for comment by BuzzFeed News in time of publication. Netflix declined to comment.