Last week the public was shocked to discover that Claire Foy, renowned as Queen Elizabeth in The Crown, was paid less than her co-star Matt Smith (Prince Phillip).

 

The series' producers, Left Bank Pictures, have since stated that going forward no one will be paid more than the Queen, who will be played by Olivia Colman in the upcoming third season.

 

Left Bank has now issued a statement addressing the controversy, Deadline reports.

 

The statement reads: "We want to apologise to both Claire Foy and to Matt Smith, brilliant actors and friends, who have found themselves at the centre of a media storm this week through no fault of their own.

 

 

"Claire and Matt are incredibly gifted actors who, along with the wider cast on The Crown have worked tirelessly to bring our characters to life with compassion and integrity."

 

Left Bank emphasised the fact that the actors in question were unaware of what their co-stars were paid for their work.

 

"As the producers of The Crown, we at Left Bank Pictures are responsible for budgets and salaries; the actors are not aware of who gets what, and cannot be held personally responsible for the pay of their colleagues," the producers continued.

 

"We understand and appreciate the conversation which is rightly being played out across society and we are absolutely united with the fight for fair pay, free of gender bias, and for a re-balancing of the industry’s treatment of women, both those in front of the camera and for those behind the scenes."

 

 

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Left Back acknowledged their 'responsibility to do what we can to ensure that these issues are tackled'.

 

They said they are currently in conversations with ERA 50:50 (which champions gender equality on screen and stage in the UK) and would like to talk to Time's Up UK in the near future.

 

The producers are interested in these organisations as both ERA 50:50 and Time's Up are 'working to ensure all women have a voice'.

 

What do you think of the production company's response, mums?

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