Chadwick Boseman Took a 21 Bridges Pay Cut to Ensure Sienna Miller Was Compensated Fairly

Since the unexpected announcement of Chadwick Boseman’s passing on Aug. 28, the late actor’s friends have been openly speaking about his compassion, generosity, and the powerful legacy he has left behind. In a recent interview with Empire, Chadwick’s 21 Bridges costar Sienna Miller revealed that he enthusiastically encouraged her to take on the role of Frankie Burns and took a pay cut from his own salary to ensure that she was compensated fairly.

“This was a pretty big-budget film, and I know that everybody understands about the pay disparity in Hollywood, but I asked for a number that the studio wouldn’t get to,” Sienna said. “And because I was hesitant to go back to work and my daughter was starting school and it was an inconvenient time, I said, ‘I’ll do it if I’m compensated in the right way,’ and Chadwick ended up donating some of his salary to get me to the number that I had asked for. He said that that was what I deserved to be paid.”

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Sienna went on to express her shock that a man in the film industry would make such a selfless gesture and shared her appreciation for his generosity and kindness. “It was about the most astounding thing that I’ve experienced,” Sienna said. “That kind of thing just doesn’t happen. He said, ‘You’re getting paid what you deserve, and what you’re worth.’ It’s just unfathomable to imagine another man in that town behaving that graciously or respectfully. In the aftermath of this, I’ve told other male actor friends of mine that story and they all go very, very quiet and go home and probably have to sit and think about things for a while. But there was no showiness, it was, ‘Of course I’ll get you to that number, because that’s what you should be paid.’ . . . I think it’s a testament to who he was.”

Chadwick died at the age of 43 after a four-year battle with colon cancer. He is survived by his wife, Taylor Simone Ledward.