12 actors who received undeservedly small fees for their roles (13 photos)

Now some Hollywood actors make money on films. millions of dollars, but once upon a time they also started small. Harrison Ford, for example, received for the legendary role of Han Solo in one part Star Wars is only $10,000. Let's take a look at other actors who received very small fees for their roles. Spoiler alert: it paid off later anyway.





1. Harrison Ford, Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope (1977)



The role of Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford in Star Wars wars", one of the most legendary in the world of cinema. But for filming in "Episode 4: A New Hope" in 1977 he was paid a very small fee - only 10 thousand dollars. Compared to today's acting fees, it's just a trifle, but then for Ford it was significant money. How it is known that before the film industry and for some time after he worked as a carpenter.

2. Hilary Swank, Boys Don't Cry (1999)





Actress Hilary Swank was awarded an Oscar for her performance in this film. for Best Actress. But despite the fact that the film promoted the actress in the film industry, her fee for him was extremely small - for all the shooting she received three thousand dollars. According to the actress herself, back then she couldn't even afford a year's health insurance, which cost five thousand dollars.

3. Seann William Scott, American Pie (1999)



Before the iconic role in "American Pie" Seann William Scott worked as a churros seller at the zoo. After the comedy role of Stifler, everything has changed. However, for all the shooting, the actor received only eight thousand. dollars.

4. Barhad Abdi, Captain Phillips (2013)



Before filming Captain Phillips, Barhad Abdi worked first as a limousine driver and then as a sales clerk in his brother's shop. Role the pirate brought him great success, but he received only 65 thousand for it dollars. For 2013, this fee amount is considered extremely small, even by the standards of the Screen Actors Guild, especially considering box office worldwide ($219 million).

5. Christian Bale, American Psycho (2000)



The legendary role of Patrick Bateman brought Bale fame. But in one interview, the actor himself recalled how over him make-up artists laughed - because they received more than him. Exact amount unknown, but according to the actor, the filmmakers paid him the lowest possible fee. Then Bale lived in the same house with his father and sister, and needed money - so he wanted to get this role and was agree to any money. At the casting, he was not particularly impressed with the management film, but they decided to take him on the role. As a result, she became one of the most iconic in Hollywood history, and Bale himself paved the way for successful future.

6. Dustin Hoffman, The Graduate (1967)



Despite the fact that at the box office the film "The Graduate" collected more 100 million dollars (in 1967!), actor Dustin Hoffman received for his role is only 4 thousand dollars. At that time they were funny money. After filming, Hoffman was unemployed for some time, but the success of the film brought him fame.

7. Nick Castle, "Halloween"



Although the role in "Halloween" was not a breakthrough for Nick Castle (he is a director himself, and rarely acted as an actor), she certainly became a cult. However, for filming he was paid only 25 dollars a day. day. Castle himself, it seems, was not against such a fee, considering he wore a mask most of the time. But compared to the sum of the film's box office ($ 70 million), his fee seems scanty.

8. Jamie Lee Curtis, Halloween (1978)



For filming in the same "Halloween" actress Jamie Lee Curtis received eight thousand dollars. According to herself actresses, in those days of the late 70s, this amount seemed large, but again However, compared with the fees of $ 70 million, it is significant loses.

9. Jeff Daniels, Dumb and Dumber (1994)



Both Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels gave their 100% in the film "Dumb and dumber" - however, their fees were different. Carrie on that time was a bigger star, and Daniels had just begun his journey into comedies, so he received only 50 thousand dollars (Jim Carrey was paid 7 million dollars!). The filmmakers did not really want the role performed by Daniels, and offered him such a small fee in the hope that he will refuse. But the actor agreed. At the box office, the film, by the way, collected more than 247 million dollars.

10. Patricia Arquette, Boyhood (2014)



The film "Boyhood" was filmed intermittently for about 12 years. When it finally came out in 2014, actress Patricia Arquette won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. But in interview after filming, the actress admitted that she received for work in movie for a meager fee. According to her, she "paid more money to her babysitter and dog walker" than earned on "Boyhood". The exact amount unknown, but Arquette admitted that during filming she could not cover expenses for the maintenance of children and pets.

11. Brad Pitt, Thelma & Louise (1991)



In Thelma & Louise, Brad Pitt, then a rising star, played a supporting role, and received only six thousand dollars for it. Compared to $45 million in fees, Pitt's fee was extremely small.

12. Oprah Winfrey, Purple Fields (1985)



The then-unknown Oprah Winfrey received for her role in "Purple Flowers of the Fields" only 35 thousand dollars. Fees films in the world amounted to 146 million dollars, so now this earnings seems ridiculous. Later, Oprah became one of the most famous TV presenters and figures in the world, so for sure she does not hold a grudge about this.