Claire Foy Says She Was Never Actually Given That Back Pay She Was Reportedly Promised for 'The Crown'

Despite reports that Claire Foy received back pay to make up for the pay gap between her and costar Matt Smith during the first two seasons of The Crown, the actress says that didn't happen. T

Face, Green, Head, Smile, Photography, Fictional character,
(Image credit: Stuart Hendry / Netflix)

Earlier this year, reports circulated that The Crown star Claire Foy would receive back pay to rectify the pay disparity between her and costar Matt Smith. Those reports turned out to be false.

In April, the Daily Mail reported that Foy was given £200,000 (or about $250,000) in back pay from the show’s producers after news that she was paid significantly less than Smith caused an uproar among fans.

Now, however, Foy says there was no truth to the reports that she was receiving back pay to rectify the pay gap. In a new interview with Al Arabiya, Foy cleared things up and explained that neither she nor The Crown's producers have ever discussed back pay.

"That was what was reported that I was back-paid. I’ve never mentioned anything about it and neither have the producers. The fact that that is ‘fact’ is — not quite correct," she said. "Yes, it’s Netflix, but it’s a British production company. It happened at the same time as it was coming out with a lot of other people that there was a lot of pay inequality across the board — in the music industry, in journalism, in every industry. It’s across the board that it became part of a bigger conversation, which is an odd place to find yourself in."

Although Foy was not given back pay for her role as Queen Elizabeth, Suzanne Mackie, one of The Crown's producers committed to paying the show's lead actress fairly in the future. "Going forward, no one gets paid more than the queen,” she said.

Of course, that won't be Foy. In season three, Olivia Colman will take over the iconic role.

Contributing Editor at Marie Claire

Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Latest in Celebrity
Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries, and Kris Jenner posing with a car-shaped birthday cake at Marquee Nightclub in Las Vegas in October 2011
Kris Jenner Is Still Making Fun of Kim Kardashian for Her 72-Day Marriage
Jonathan Davino in a blue shirt and gray blazer and Sydney Sweeney in a black and white patterned dress at the InStyle and Kate Spade dinner in October 2018
Sydney Sweeney Deletes Instagram of Fiancé Jonathan Davino, Further Fueling Breakup Rumors
Meghan Markle in a beige shirt on stage at SXSW in March 2024
Meghan Markle and Gwyneth Paltrow Open Up About Their "Rift" Over Pie
Princess Madeleine of Sweden wearing a tiara featuring emeralds
Why Princess Madeleine of Sweden Can't Use Her Royal Title to Promote Her New Skincare Line
Queen Camilla has blonde hair and is wearing a dark green shirt dress
Why Queen Camilla Has Been Issued a "Strict" Warning Regarding Her Meeting With the Pope
Benny Blanco in a purple shirt with a white tank top underneath and Selena Gomez in a black dress backstage at The Tonight Show in March 2025
Selena Gomez Says She’s "Excited" to Become a Mom Someday in Joint Interview with Benny Blanco
Latest in News
Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries, and Kris Jenner posing with a car-shaped birthday cake at Marquee Nightclub in Las Vegas in October 2011
Kris Jenner Is Still Making Fun of Kim Kardashian for Her 72-Day Marriage
Model with barely there makeup, glowy skin, and long coily hair.
Everything You Need to Know About Marie Claire’s Skin and Hair Awards
Kendall Jenner stands in a room wearing a bateau neckline top with coordinating skirt and pants
Kendall Jenner Pairs the Optical Illusion Skirt-Pant Trend With a Rich-Girl "Amazon" Clutch
Two men (Ike Barinholtz and Seth Rogen) sit at a conference table with a script in front of them, as two women (Kathryn Hahn and Chase Sui Wonders) stand behind them, in 'The Studio.'
The Cast of 'The Studio': Your Guide
Bella Hadid walks into a studio wearing an oversize leather jacket with a pair of capri leggings and ballet sneakers
The Ballet Sneaker Trend Is Bella Hadid's Undisputed It-Shoe of 2025
Keke Palmer in a brown cutout dress and long copper hair
Keke Palmer Returns to the Dark Side With Deep Espresso Hair