Several underpaid actors openly spoke about not making enough to lead a comfortable lifestyle, indicating that fame does not guarantee wealth. Seemingly the glitz and glam of Hollywood is limited to paparazzi and red-carpet looks.
Underpaid Actors Who Talked About Struggling Financially
Sydney Sweeney
Sydney Sweeney gained recognition as a standout performer on the hit show “Euphoria,” receiving multiple Emmy nominations. She also acted in the recent Marvel film, “Madame Web.” Despite her success, Sweeney admitted to The Hollywood Reporter in 2022 that she was not financially secure.
“If I wanted to take a six-month break, I don’t have income to cover that. I don’t have someone supporting me, I don’t have anyone I can turn to, to pay my bills or call for help.”
She continued,
“They don’t pay actors like they used to, and with streamers, you no longer get residuals. The established stars still get paid, but I have to give 5% to my lawyer, 10% to my agents, 3% or something like that to my business manager. I have to pay my publicist every month, and that’s more than my mortgage.”
In addition, Sweeney mentioned that she had to accept sponsorship deals to supplement her income. She also shared her desire to have a family but expressed concern about being able to afford a career hiatus for maternity leave. It’s no surprise that the underpaid actors resorted to the SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023.
Sebastian Stan
Although Sebastian Stan’s first appearance in a Marvel film was in the 2011 movie “Captain America: The First Avenger,” his financial situation did not immediately improve following the release of the film. It is hard to believe that Stan would be one of the underpaid actors despite working in several hit MCU franchises.
In a 2021 interview, Sebastian revealed that after filming The First Avenger he still had to worry about his rent.
“About a month later, I had a call from my business manager telling me I had a month left to figure out how I was going to pay my rent. So, perception is always interesting, isn’t it? Nobody ever knows what the fuck is really happening.”
Nika King
Nika King, known for her role in “Euphoria,” revealed that the show’s delay has made it difficult for her to cover her rent expenses. However, she is not the only one of the underpaid actors in Hollywood facing financial challenges, despite their fame in popular productions.
King played the role of Leslie Bennett, the mother of Rue (played by Zendaya), in the popular HBO show. While the network has officially renewed “Euphoria” for a third season in 2022, fans will have to wait until 2025 for its premiere.
King pleaded for the revival of “Euphoria” during her standup performance at the Hollywood Improv, citing the show as her only means of paying rent.
Although she spoke playfully, King expressed genuine concern about her financial struggles. She also mentioned that she has not obtained any new acting opportunities since her role in “Euphoria.” Additionally, King did appear in the 2023 film “65,” but it is uncertain when she was officially cast for the role.
Billy Porter
According to an interview with the London Evening Standard in August 2023, Billy Porter had to sell his house during the SAG-AFTRA strikes due to uncertainty about when he would be able to resume working. He spoke about how underpaid actors live “cheque-to-cheque” unless they have “fuck-you money”.
“The life of an artist, until you make fuck-you money — which I haven’t made yet — is still cheque-to-cheque. I was supposed to be in a new movie, and on a new television show starting in September. None of that is happening.”
Dianne West
One wouldn’t expect a two-time Academy Award winner, Dianne West, to be on the list of underpaid actors. In 2015, Wiest, disclosed to The New York Times her difficulties in securing work to cover her rent expenses.
“I have to move out of my apartment soon,” Wiest said. “I think that if it’s meant to happen, it will happen. Which is I guess a real sign of stupidity.”
Initially, Wiest had relied on theater to secure acting opportunities. However, beginning in 2015, she has taken on leading roles in multiple films and two television shows.
Matt McGorry
In July 2023, several underpaid actors from “Orange Is The New Black” also spoke out, revealing that they received low pay for their roles in the award-winning series.
According to a comment on a TikTok video, Matt McGorry, the actor who portrayed John Bennett the prison guard, shared that he had to find a job during the production of the show. He wrote,
“I kept my day job the entire time I was on the show because it paid better than the mega-hit TV show we were on.”
Mara Wilson
From July to November 2023, when the SAG-AFTRA union strike was ongoing, certain underpaid actors spoke out about their low wages. In July 2023, Mara Wilson, a former child star, revealed that despite appearing in multiple TV shows, she did not earn enough to be eligible for SAG-AFTRA healthcare.
Several actors, such as Matt Damon, assert that an actor must make at least $26,000 per year to be eligible for healthcare.
