Turns out paradise comes with a “very low” paycheck.
“White Lotus” star Jason Isaacs confirmed every actor on the cast earned $40,000 per episode of Season 3 — admitting the salary was way below average for a major network series.
“Generally actors don’t talk about pay in public because it’s ridiculously disproportionate to what we do — putting on makeup and funny voices — and just upsets the public,” Isaacs told Vulture in an interview published Monday.
“But compared to what people normally get paid for big television shows, that’s a very low price.”
However, the “Harry Potter” star acknowledged, “But the fact is, we would have paid to be in it. We probably would have given a body part.”
Isaacs, 62, also made a candid confession when asked about being compensated the same as “lesser-experienced actors like Patrick Schwarzenegger.”
“I never work for money,” he stated.
“I mean, I’ve done all right,” the “Peter Pan” star continued.
“People will think I have huge stockpiles of money but sadly, what I’ve done rather immaturely is expand my outgoings to match my incomings and pretty much spent everything I’ve earned over the years.”
Isaacs starred on Season 3 of the HBO megahit alongside Schwarzenegger, Aimee Lou Wood, Walton Goggins, Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, Natasha Rothwell, Sam Nivola, Sarah Catherine Hook, Lisa and more.
In April, the show’s producer David Bernad and casting director Meredith Tucker detailed their non-negotiable pay structure in a feature for the Hollywood Reporter.
“Everyone is treated the same on ‘The White Lotus.’ They get paid the same, and we do alphabetical billing, so you’re getting people who want to do the project for the right reasons, not to quote ‘The Bachelor,’” Bernad said.
“It’s a system we developed in the first season because there was no money to make the show.”
“It makes it so much easier,” Tucker added.
“You tell people this is what it is. And some won’t do it — and honestly, you can’t hold it against people who need to make a living. Our series regulars are pretty much doing this for scale.”
According to the outlet, even Woody Harrelson couldn’t get a salary bump for the role of Rick Hatchett after going all the way up to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav.
Sources said he eventually dropped out due to scheduling conflicts
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