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Octavia Spencer has basketball star LeBron James to thank for helping her land a windfall on her new Netflix series Madam C.J. Walker.
The Help star reveals James, who serves as an executive producer on the project, ensured she landed a pay cheque that was equal to that of her male castmates in the series, in which she plays the titular character - a real-life entrepreneur.
"I have to say, when I was negotiating my deal for Madam C.J., LeBron James had to intervene," she said. "We need all our male counterparts to be in the fight with us."
James has spoken out against unequal pay for women in the past, telling The Hollywood Reporter in September (18) he sympathised with Serena Williams in her struggle for equality following her on-court outburst at the U.S. Open.
He told the publication, "She is fighting for equality - always having to win more, more, more, just to feel equal. Being an African-American woman playing in a predominantly white sport, she's dealing with so much more. I have no idea what was going on in her head, but I feel that struggle."
Spencer also found a fair pay ally in Jessica Chastain, who appeared alongside her in The Help. In June, the actress revealed she spoke out when she discovered Spencer was making less than her co-stars on an upcoming project.
"This is the God's honest truth, I care more about what Octavia's getting paid than what I'm getting paid. Because I've got a great life," she said. "I am more concerned about her than I am about me. Equal pay for equal work!"
She added, "I knew women of colour got paid less than Caucasian actresses. What I didn’t know is someone of Octavia’s level, who had an Oscar and two Oscar nominations, how much less she would be getting paid. When she told me what she was making, that’s what really made me go, 'Hold up, that doesn’t compute in my brain'."