Kaya Scodelario admits she STILL gets paid less than male actors despite 'spending 18 hours on set, breaking bones and destroying myself mentally for the sake of the character'

1 week ago 8

By JASON CHESTER FOR MAILONLINE

Published: 11:56 GMT, 11 December 2024 | Updated: 11:56 GMT, 11 December 2024

Kaya Scodelario admits she's still being paid less than her male counterparts, despite establishing herself as one of Britain's most prominent actors. 

The Sussex-born star developed a cult following after getting her break as teenager Effy Stonem in popular E4 drama Skins. 

She has since starred in a string of successful blockbusters, among them Ted Bundy biopic Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile with Zac Efron and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, with Johnny Depp

But despite her passion for the craft and love of set work, Scodelario, 32, insists there remains a significant financial disparity in male and female earnings within the film industry - much to her dismay.   

She told FAULT magazine: ''I still really love my job, but my favourite part of it is spending 18 hours on set, breaking bones and destroying myself mentally for the sake of the character. That's the bit I love. 

'But also, it's a career and a job, and there are parts of it that are still really hard for women. I'm acutely aware that I'm probably still being paid less than any male co-star I work with. 

Kaya Scodelario admits she's still being paid less than her male counterparts, despite establishing herself as one of Britain's most prominent actors

'The stories I want to tell are harder to find - they just take more time.'

She added: 'It's challenging because I love it so much, but I'm in a beautiful position. I'm fortunate, and I'm aware I get to do a job I love. 

'I'm so fortunate to do something artistic that we enjoy, but there's still a long way to go

Away from work, Scodelario and her ex-husband Benjamin Walker are back together after reconciling at an art opening in the Maldives - five months after they separated.

The former couple - who are parents to two children and had been married for eight years prior to their split - attended the unveiling of the latest collection of artwork by Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar at Patina Maldives in July.

Scodelario and Walker exchanged vows in December 2015 and share a seven-year-old son and two-year-old daughter together.

The couple looked close as they posed under the palm trees of the idyllic Maldives hotel in the dedicated gallery space to attend the private view of sustainably-sourced exhibition, Life Energy.

The couple announced their separation in a joint statement in February which read: 'Some time ago Kaya and Ben made the joint decision to end their marriage but continue to co-parent lovingly whilst remaining the best of friends. 

Despite her success, Scodelario insists there remains a significant financial disparity in male and female earnings within the film industry - much to her dismay

'There are parts of it that are still really hard for women. I'm acutely aware that I'm probably still being paid less than any male co-star I work with,' she told FAULT magazine 

Away from work, Scodelario and her ex-husband Benjamin Walker are back together after reconciling at an art opening in the Maldives - five months after they separated 

'They ask that their privacy as well as that of their children's remain respected as they continue to move forward as a family.'

They met while filming The King's Daughter back in 2014, when the Maze Runner star was 22 and the The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power actor was 31.

After a whirlwind romance, they became engaged in December 2014 and tied the knot the following December, both adopting the surname Scodelario-Davis.

Walker was previously married to Meryl Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer, from 2011 until their split in March 2013.

Scodelario previously dated her Skins co-star Jack O'Connell and had a long-term romance with Shameless actor Eliott Tittensor from late 2009 to early 2014.

The full interview is available in the current issue if FAULT magazine, out now 

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