(Credit: Netflix)

Politics has been part of the work script since long before the credits started rolling. And while some like to believe we’ve reached the sequel called ‘equality,’ a few plot twists still make us rewind. The wage gap drama isn’t exactly Hollywood exclusive; it’s a persistent sidekick in every industry, just a few tweaks in the political genres and subgenres. Take Robin Wright, for instance, who had to work thrice as much to earn as her co-star Kevin Spacey on Netflix’s House of Cards.

Wright recently stopped by the Monte Carlo TV Festival and took a trip down memory lane to the days of House of Cards (via Variety). The trip was brief but bitter to say the least. Despite her success with the series, Wright was allegedly denied equal pay as an actor.

Of course, they offered a solution, but the one that would make jaws drop. “They literally said: ‘Well, we can’t pay you the same as an actor, so we’re going to divvy it up to make it equal,” she recalled.

They agreed to offer Wright three paychecks in order to make the wage equal to Spacey’s. But it came with three distinct roles, unlike her co-star, who earned the same just from acting. She then had to play an executive producer, take over the director’s seat, and of course, act. When the Forrest Gump actor confronted, demanding the reasons why they couldn’t pay her the same amount as an actor, the answer was quite a setback.

“Because you didn’t win an Academy Award,” Wright recounted the thorn-like words. She was attached to House of Cards, the Netflix political drama from 2013 to 2018, as Claire Underwood. She reportedly directed ten episodes of the Netflix series. Surprisingly, in 2016, she was one of the highest-paid actors in the US. Wright reportedly cashed in $420,000 per episode of House of Cards. Although her character was just as crucial as Spacey’s, if not more, he earned $500,000 per episode.

In a conversation with Marie Claire back in 2016, she opened up about how she took it upon herself to investigate whether she or Spacey’s character was more famous. When the statistics favoured her, she took the cue and reportedly told Netflix, “You better pay me or I’m going to go public.” And honestly, it worked because House of Cards would crumble without Claire Underwood.

While her fight paid off, she also shed light on the directorial opportunity that came with House of Cards. According to Wright, it was nothing less than a “gift.” “I learned so much on that show. I didn’t feel any pressure. I was encouraged to do it,” she added. Of course, she had to put herself out there to ensure she was heard; once she was, there was absolutely no going back.