The gender pay disparity has long been an issue in Hollywood, and Melanie Lynskey experienced it first-hand during her tenure in Chuck Lorre’s Two and a Half Men. Notable for leaning towards artistic and creatively fulfilling gigs, Lynskey rose to prominence in the early 2000s following her tenure in the Charlie Sheen-led show.
Despite serving as a regular in the initial seasons of the show, who was then relegated to guest appearances in the latter seasons, the actress revealed that she was apparently making the bare minimum from the job.
Melanie Lynskey Was Apparently Being Paid the Minimum Wage in Two and a Half Men
Although the paycheck from Two and a Half Men ensured financial security for her, compared to her costars, including Charlie Sheen, who was racking in millions for the job, Lynskey on the other hand was making peanuts. While The Last of Us star confessed that she was thankful for getting a regular paycheck, on the flip side, the actress was apparently being paid the least possible amount per the SAG guidelines.
It wasn’t huge; it was literally the least they could possibly pay me, according to SAG.
Even though the actress wasn’t the biggest fan of her tenure in the sitcom, as this wasn’t exactly her cup of tea, her guest appearances in the latter seasons allowed her to pursue a more artistic route in showbiz.
Brokeback Mountain Pushed Melanie Lynskey To Move On From the Sitcom
Melanie Lynskey‘s shift from a regular to guest gigs in the sitcom stemmed from her want to star in creatively fulfilling Indie projects, even though it wasn’t the most viable aspect financially. Although she tried to part ways after season 1, as being a regular hindered her prospects outside of the show, Chuck Lorre convinced her against it.
But after watching Brokeback Mountain the actress was adamant about her Indie goals, and despite further pushback, Lynskey and the showrunners finally came to an agreement.
Around that time, I saw Brokeback Mountain. It’s not like I thought I could get cast in it, but I was like, I didn’t audition for this. I’m not in a conversation around movies like this. I’m not doing things I want to do. I said I needed to be able to do other things. And they really tried to talk me out of it. Finally, we came to an agreement where I could come and go.
While her departure from the sitcom wasn’t pretty, as the actress felt her presence was undervalued, she has continued to excel creatively and financially outside of the sitcom.
Two and a Half Men is available to stream on Max.
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