Jason Isaacs Says ‘White Lotus' Equal Pay Earned Each Actor $40,000 an Episode: ‘Do I Mind That I Wasn't Paid More Than' Younger Co-Stars? ‘I Never Work for Money'
'I didn't know that was public knowledge. That's absolutely true,' Isaacs said. '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. But compared to what people normally get paid for big television shows, that's a very low price. But the fact is, we would have paid to be in it. We probably would have given a body part.'
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'The White Lotus' cast being paid equally meant that acting veterans such as Isaacs and Parker Posey made the same as relative newcomers to the industry like Sarah Catherine Hook and Sam Nivola. Isaacs politely scoffed when asked if he thought that was fair or not.
'Do I mind that I wasn't paid more than other people? I never work for money,' Isaacs said. 'I've done all right. 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 also used 'The White Lotus' set to impart wisdom on his younger co-stars, mainly how they can't 'over-invest' in the final product because it's completely out of their control. That's for creator Mike White to worry about more than his actors. Isaacs learned that lesson the hard way after playing Captain Hook in 2003's notorious misfire 'Peter Pan.'
'It was a big expensive production with multiple studios. We filmed for 14 months. … The film tanked,' Isaacs said. 'I think it's a masterpiece, but people looked at the poster and went, 'Oh, fuck it. I've seen 'Hook' with Robin Williams, and I've seen the cartoon. Why do I need to see another one?' It was a catastrophe professionally for me, a huge fall from grace. I couldn't get a walk-on role. And I changed my agent and I almost changed my job, frankly, because I didn't think I'd work again. The lowest I've ever been was after 'Peter Pan.' I was really in despair but not as bad as I would have been had I believed any of the bullshit that had been whispered in my ear. I didn't over-invest in the results of it, which is something I tried to counsel the young actors on 'The White Lotus' not to do.'
'The White Lotus' Season 3 is streaming in its entirety on Max. Head over to Vulture's website to read more from Isaacs' latest interview.
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