Michelle Williams powerfully elaborates on Emmys equal pay comments

Michelle Williams' speech at the 2019 Emmys had audiences applauding in the room and at home, and she went on to explain why and how she brought up gender equality and equity on FX's Fosse/Verdon.

In a backstage interview, Williams was asked specifically about her experience on 2017's All the Money in the World, for which she was paid roughly one-eighth of costar Mark Wahlberg's paycheck for reshoots.

"The discrepancy in All the Money in the World was so huge that it really illustrated a larger point not just for myself, obviously, but as I've said before: if it was this difficult for me, a white woman in a privileged industry, how difficult is it for women of color across all industries?" Williams told reporters.

Williams said that All the Money in the World "woke me up" regarding how she never felt long term financially security, even with constant work and accolades.

"While tonight is a kind of fairy tale ending for me and for my own personal story, there really won't be any satisfaction for me until the larger message is heard," Williams added.

In accepting her award for Lead Actress in a Limited Series, Williams thanked the Fosse/Verdon team for their respect and compassion.

“The next time a woman, and especially a woman of color — because she makes 52 cents compared to her white male counterpart — tells you what she needs in order to do her job, listen to her, believe her,” Williams said. “Because one day she might stand in front of you and say thank you for allowing her to succeed because of her workplace environment, and not in spite of it.”

Williams' full comments on pay disparity and her experience on Fosse/Verdon:

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See all the Emmy winners here.