Benedict Cumberbatch takes a strong stand on equal pay
If you have a role for Benedict Cumberbatch but his female co-stars aren't receiving equal pay, he's going to say no.
The Doctor Strange and Sherlock star is using his sizable platform to push for positive, necessary change. He said as much in a recent interview with Radio Times, during which he articulated his thoughts on gender equality very clearly.
"Equal pay and a place at the table are the central tenets of feminism," he said. "Look at your quotas. Ask what women are being paid, and say: 'If she’s not paid the same as the men, I’m not doing it.'"
That's his stance as an actor, though Cumberbatch also described how he uses his platform as a producer, under the SunnyMarch, Ltd. banner, to promote the same agenda.
"I’m proud that [partner] Adam [Ackland] and I are the only men in our production company; our next project is a female story with a female lens about motherhood, in a time of environmental disaster. If it’s centered around my name, to get investors, then we can use that attention for a raft of female projects. Half the audience is female!"
On one level, this is common sense stuff. But as #MeToo and the Time's Up movement have made abundantly clear, common sense doesn't always dictate reality.
Instead of sitting back and waiting for others to make things better, Cumberbatch is being the change he wishes to see in the world. Please, other male actors in Hollywood (and beyond: Be like Benedict.
Topics Activism Celebrities
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
