Netflix hit The Crown paid its queen less than her prince

British actress Claire Foy, who starred as a young QueenElizabeth in the critically acclaimed Netflix seriesThe Crown,was paid less than her co-star, Matt Smith,according to the television show's producers.

In the latest example of pay disparity in the entertainmentindustry, Hollywood trade publication Variety reported onTuesday that The Crownproducers Andy Harries and SuzanneMackie told a television industry conference in Jerusalem thatSmith, who played a young Prince Philip, was paid more than Foyfor the first two seasons of the show.

Foy, 33, won a Golden Globe and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for her nuanced portrayal of Britain's monarch in the1950s and 1960s.

Smith, 35, was not similarly honoured.

"Going forward, no one gets paid more than the queen,"Variety quoted Mackie as saying.

Foy, however, will not be reprising her role as QueenElizabeth. British actress Olivia Colman is stepping in to playthe older monarch as upcoming Season 3 of the show moves intothe 1970s. Prince Philip will also be played by a differentactor.

Netflix Inc. declined to comment on actor salaries.Representatives for Foy and Smith did not return requests forcomment on Tuesday.

The Crownis one of the most expensive television showsever produced, costing a reported $130 million (all figures US) for the firstseason.

The ongoing disparity between men and women is reflected inannual lists published by Forbes magazine. In 2017, Emma Stonetopped the best-paid actress list with $26 million, while MarkWahlberg was the highest-paid man with $68 million in estimatedannual earnings.

Wahlberg made news earlier this year when it was revealedthat he was paid $1.5 million for reshoots on movie All theMoney in the Worldwhile co-star Michelle Williams got $1,000.Wahlberg later donated his salary to Time's Up, the campaignagainst workplace sexual misconduct.