Filmsane

Robin Wright became my hero this month. I know you’re not supposed to have heroes (I’m a 30 year old woman, and they nearly always let you down), but she did just that. She became my hero. Yesterday the acclaimed actress, director, producer and activist returned to the small screen for the 5-th season of the Netflix show, House Of Cards. All 13 new episodes of Hose Of Cards are available on Netflix, and Wright yet again is credited as director in the last 2 episodes of the 5-th season (despite being lading actress of the Netflix show).

But I’m not here to talk about her accomplishments on screen. More of those off screen to be exact.

In the June issue of Rhapsody Magazine, Wright spoke yet again about her struggle to receive equal pay for playing the cold and calculating First Lady of USA, Claire Underwood, and the impact it had on her career. Since the show’s premiere in 2013, she became Golden Globe winner, Emmy nominee, has directed a total of 7 episodes, became executive producer (since the 4-th season) and her character became integral part of the show. An excellent reason for her demands one might say.

During the sit down with Rhapsody Magazine, the actress reminded us of the demand for equal pay she also made public months ago, but she now revealed the disappointment of not being obliged and approved of that. She was later told by the producers that equality in payment is not possible (despite having the same screen time as her co-star Kevin Spacey), but as reported by The Playlist, she was offered additional financial incentives, and lucrative production deal with backers, Media Rights Capital.

It’s such a male-dominant workforce still. There’s a conditioning,’ she said. ‘And changing the condition of men is what needs to happen. A reeducation. A new way of thinking. A new philosophy. I think [change] needs to happen in all of these industries, when we’re doing the same thing that a man is doing, and we’re still getting paid less.’ Wright concluded.

Wright is perhaps last in the long list of actresses that are speaking out and demanding equal pay as their male colleagues (Diane Kruger, Jenifer Lawrence, Patricia Arquette, Hillary Swank, Emma Stone to name a few) and while some of them win the gender gap battle (the wonderful and talented Emmy Rossum for instance), it’s still an ongoing battle in Hollywood for the rest.

Courtesy of Rhapsody Magazine

Let me tell you something. Wright may lost this battle, but won so many along the way (and became my personal hero in the process). First of all Ive been a fan of her since I saw her in The Princess Bride. Secondly she is perhaps one of the few actresses that have enjoyed steady and quality career both on screen and on TV for the last 3 decades. She and her talent stood the test of time and like very few in Tinseltown she ages like a fine wine. She gets better as time goes by.

But what impressed me about her public demand for equality is her strong will not to conform, bow her head and keep quiet about such an important issue. Some may say that it’s best to leave those kinds of issues to the younger generation of actresses, and some may argue that at 51 she’s just another victim of Hollywood’s notorious ageism, but… au contraire. Not only she’s one of the sought after actress working today. Not only she’s currently also starring in DC Comics’ blockbuster Wonder Woman, she is set to appear in long awaited Blade Runner 2049 at the end of the year. It’s her duty to speak up.

You can also argue that she’s having a career renascence, but it’s not the case at all. She’s been the most stable, talented and gorgeous actresses for decades now, it’s just this time she’s asking to be compensated equally for her efforts. Few years ago I was in the same position as Miss Wright. At my previous work place I demanded to be paid equally, and like her my offer was declined. I know the feeling of defeat all too well, but she became my hero just for trying and speaking out. She tried, she failed but she opened so many opportunities for so many other actresses to come. She blazed a trail not for the women in the acting profession but for women everywhere in every other industry. I hope that so many other women after Robin Wright will no longer be afraid to ask for equality in the workplace, and just by that she became my new personal hero.

House of Cards season five is on Netflix now.

And hell yeah…. You certainly can have heroes at 30…