British employment law expert Sarah Calderwood thinks Foy has a case. "The Equality Act 2010 implies an 'equality clause' into every employment contract," she says in reaction to the pay disparity between Foy and co-star Matt Smith. "Where a woman is employed on 'like work,' 'work rated as equivalent' or 'work of equal value' to a man in the same employment, she is entitled to terms which are no less favorable than the man’s e.g. his salary. Claire Foy could bring her claim in the Employment Tribunal, however is has to be noted that there is a six-month time limit from the last day of employment and Claire could therefore be out of time to bring her claim." It's not clear when Foy stopped working on The Crown, since Season 2 premiered just three months ago. However, another employment law expert, Jennifer Pinder, suggests that Netflix's excuse that Smith was paid more because he was more famous holds up -- but only for the first season, before Foy racked up an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe victory.
TOPICS: The Crown, Netflix, Claire Foy, Matt Smith, Pay Equality