Julie Delpy Wouldn't Do The Final 'Before' Film Until She Received Equal Pay As Ethan Hawke

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If you follow the film and TV industry, you’re likely aware that pay inequality between women and men has been an issue for decades. And thanks to social media and movements like Time’s Up, women are feeling more secure voicing their concerns and sharing stories about the discriminatory practices in the industry. Now, years after the final film in the ‘Before’ trilogy, actress Julie Delpy is admitting that pay inequality was standard practice on that series until she finally spoke up.

Speaking to Variety, Delpy, who co-starred alongside Ethan Hawke in Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunrise,” “Before Sunset,” and “Before Midnight,” revealed that the pay inequality between the two leads was so distressing that before she even agreed to do the final film in 2013, she demanded fairness.

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“I spent my life being criticized for criticizing the fact there wasn’t enough women [in Hollywood],” Delpy said. “I was very outspoken all my life and it gave me the reputation of being a pain in the ass. I was raised by two feminists, my mother and my dad. I think of equality as something that should be a complete normal thing.”

She added, “ I am completely behind #MeToo, Time’s Up, and all this. But you know, everyone is talking about equality and we need to help women. As a woman you know you’re being paid less as a writer, as a director, as an actress. On the ‘Before’ movies, the first film I think I was paid maybe a tenth of what Ethan was paid. The second movie, I think I was paid half. The third movie I said, ‘Listen guys, if I’m not paid the same, I’m not doing it.’”

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As mentioned, with Time’s Up and the power of women speaking out, situations like what happened on Delpy’s trilogy of films are likely going away eventually. However, now we’re hearing about how even some of the most beloved films and franchises in the industry’s history have been affected by pay issues and other less-than-ideal discriminatory situations.

But at least for Delpy, she was able to secure equal pay for the final film, even if it took two previous hit films for it to happen.