Salma Hayek wants Hollywood male stars to take pay cuts

(From left) Actress Sofia Boutella, Salma Hayek and and 'Wonder Woman' director Patty Jenkins pose on the red carpet in protest of the lack of female filmmakers honoured throughout the history of Cannes Film Festival. Only 82 films in competition in the official selection have been directed by women since the inception of the Cannes Film Festival whereas 1,645 films in the past 71 years have been directed by men. Photo: AFP

Hollywood star Salma Hayek said that male stars will have to take pay cuts if they are serious about equality for women. The Mexican-born actress, a leading voice in the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, said highly-paid male stars would have to make sacrifices.

“It is not just the producers” who have to change if the huge pay gap is to be closed. “It is actors too,” she said. “Time’s up. You had a good run but it is time now to be generous with the actresses,” she told a Women in Motion talk at the Cannes film festival on May 13.