Patricia Clarkson Discusses Her Fight for Equal Pay in Hollywood and Role in ‘Lilly’

Actress Patricia Clarkson recently opened up about discovering pay inequality early in her career. Speaking at a screening of her new film ‘Lilly’, the Oscar-nominated actress recalled asking her agent what her male co-star earned — only to be told, ‘You don’t want to know.’ This moment marked a turning point for Clarkson, who then began pushing her agents to negotiate for equal pay. She revealed that producers would often try to justify unequal salaries by citing credits, which she contested when inaccurate. As a result of her persistence, Clarkson saw a 20% increase in her income.

Clarkson stars in ‘Lilly’, a film based on the life of activist Lilly Ledbetter, who fought wage discrimination after discovering decades of unequal pay at an Alabama tire plant. Ledbetter’s efforts led to a landmark Supreme Court case and ultimately inspired the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first bill signed into law by President Obama. Although Ledbetter passed away at 86 last year, Clarkson chose not to meet her in person to preserve the image she held of her. Clarkson, raised in a family of five daughters and a politically active mother, called Ledbetter a near-religious figure. She hopes the film’s message inspires women across the country. Celebrities including Hillary Clinton and Sarah Jessica Parker attended the premiere.