By Emma Powell, Assistant Showbusiness News Editor at The Chron 13 Jul 2023 10:38pm, updated 13 Jul 2023 11:40pm
It was one of the first groundbreaking phenomena for the streaming giant. But the Orange Is The New Black cast claims they weren’t adequately compensated for the Netflix series, with some earning less than £15 ($20) in royalties a year.
Set in the fictional Litchfield Prison, the series, which ran from 2013 to 2019, is about middle-class Piper Chapman, played by Taylor Schilling, who was jailed for transporting drug money for her friend.
With 105 million users watching at least one episode of the series, it became Netflix’s most-watched original production.
But for many performers, success hasn’t translated into money.
In 2020, Kimiko Glenn, who played inmate Brook Soso, unveiled a statement of foreign royalties amounting to a paltry £20.84 ($27.30).
OITNB became Netflix’s most-watched original production, with 105 million users tuning in to at least one episode of the series. For many of the performers, success hasn’t translated into money
She recently reposted a video to Instagram of herself opening the letter, to which her former co-star Matt McGorry, who played a correctional officer, commented, “Exaccctttlllyyy.” I’ve kept my job the entire time I’ve been was on the show because it paid better than the mega-hit TV show we were on.”
Beth Dover, who played an executive for the company that took over the prison, added, “It actually cost me money to be in seasons 3 and 4 because I had to… get kicked out myself, etc. But I was so excited .” Opportunity to be in a show I loved, so I jumped at it. It’s insane.’
Some stars, including Emma Myles, who played drug addict Leanne Taylor, were paid the absolute minimum wage by the Screen Actors Guild during filming – less than £687 ($900) a day.
Her royalties for the show this year are £15 ($20), while she’s being paid around £458 ($600) a year for guest appearances she previously had on 2004’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
The series was produced by Lionsgate – which decided how to pay the cast – and distributed by Netflix.
Series regulars ended up getting paid up to £152,000 ($200,000) per episode, but many of the supporting cast missed out on a big payday.
Netflix has been contacted for comment.