Jennifer Lawrence is the highest-paid actress in the world, and makes more than all of the other best actress nominees combined.
Lawrence topped Forbes ‘ list of the highest-paid actresses in 2015 drawing in $52 million last year. In a separate story, Forbes also noted that none of the women nominated by the Academy for best actress or best supporting actress in 2016 made more than $6 million the year before.
The news reminds us of two important points: First, that even pop-art “Oscar bait” films don’t net superstars the really big bucks. Despite having four Oscar nominations (and a win!) under her belt, Lawrence’s income was primarily driven by The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay – Part 2.
Second, that Hollywood’s leading ladies just don’t get paid as much as its leading men. The disparity between Lawrence and her peers on the “highest-paid actress list” is striking. Number two on the list, Avengers star Scarlett Johansson, made $35.5 million. The number drops sharply from there: Kristen Stewart and Anne Hathaway, tied for 9th, made $12 million in 2015. Meanwhile, Russell Crowe and Chow Yun-Fat, tied for number 24 on Forbes’ list of highest paid actors, made $18 million.
While she may earn more than any other woman — and almost every man, as Robert Downey Jr. is the only actor who made more than her last year— Lawrence still took the industry to task for its gender pay gap last fall in an essay in Lena Dunham’s newsletter, Lenny.
“I failed as a negotiator because I gave up early,” Lawrence said. “I didn’t want to keep fighting over millions of dollars that, frankly, due to two franchises, I don’t need. (I told you it wasn’t relatable, don’t hate me).”