Sienna Miller says Chadwick Boseman reduced his own salary for 21 Bridges to increase her pay for the film.

The British-American actress, who starred in the 2019 cop thriller alongside Boseman, revealed the late Black Panther star used part of his own earnings from the movie to boost Miller’s movie salary when a parity agreement couldn’t be reached by the studio.

Miller recalled Boseman’s altruism in the latest issue of Empire magazine. “He produced 21 Bridges, and had been really active in trying to get me to do it,” the American Sniper star told the publication. “He was a fan of my work, which was thrilling, because it was reciprocated from me to him, tenfold.”

“So he approached me to do it, he offered me this film, and it was at a time when I really didn't want to work anymore. I'd been working non-stop and I was exhausted, but then I wanted to work with him,” recalled Miller, who, in his effort to get her on board, donated some of his salary from the movie to increase hers.

“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. 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,’” she shared. “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.”

In all her work in the industry, the 38-year-old regarded it as “the most astounding thing” she’s experienced. “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.”

As fans know, Boseman passed away at the age of 43 years old after a quiet battle with colon cancer. Lauded as an inspiration to all who knew him and beyond, the actor recently received a tribute mural in his honor at Disneyland.

Photo: Getty Images

Helen Little

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