Emma Watson will not stop fighting for women's right because she gets called a few names. The gender equality advocate has taken a year-long acting sabbatical to spread that message across the world not only to women, but men as well.
Watson discusses the sexism she has faced a Hollywood actress in the new "Women & Men" issue of Esquire U.K. magazine. Sharing the cover with Tom Hanks, her co-star in "The Circle," the "Harry Potter" star highlights the pay gap in the industry, an issue that came to the forefront after the leaked Sony emails revealed Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams made considerably less than their male co-stars in 2013's "American Hustle."
"We are not supposed to talk about money, because people will think you're 'difficult' or a 'diva.' But there's a willingness now to be like, 'Fine. Call me a 'diva,' call me a 'feminazi,' call me difficult,' call me a 'First World feminist,' call me whatever you want. It's not going to stop me from trying to do the right thing and make sure that the right thing happens," the 25-year-old actress said.
She brings up the wage inequality "because it doesn't just affect me." Watson shines a spotlight on women outside Hollywood who are experiencing the same challenges such as "a woman on a tea plantation in Kenya, or a stockbroker on Wall Street."
"No one is being paid equally," she said.
Adams recently commented that she knew the male actors were being paid more on "American Hustle" than she and Lawrence. She chose not to speak out on how women negotiate their contracts because actors, men and women, hire people to negotiate for them.
"I knew I was being paid less and I still agreed to do it because the option comes down to do it or don't do it," she told British GQ. "So you just have to decide if it's worth it for you. It doesn't mean I liked it."
Watson, who founded the HeForShe initiative, also commended Hanks for choosing projects helmed by female directors like Penny Marshell ("Big" and "A League of Their Own") and Nora Ephron ("Sleepless in Seattle" and "You've Got Mail") as well as how he discusses other important issues.
"Whether it be gay rights, AIDS, environmental issues, children or the work he does with veterans. He speaks with such a humble grace and a credible voice," she said.
Their movie, "The Circle," will premiere later this summer. Watson also stars as Belle in Disney's live-action "Beauty and the Beast" in 2017.
