The Crown producers respond to pay controversy as petition asking Matt Smith to donate salary gains momentum

'We understand and appreciate the conversation which is rightly being played out'

The Crown, a Netflix original, was expected to do well at the Baftas (Netflix)

Last week, the producers of The Crown came under fire after news emerged that Matt Smith was paid more per episode than Claire Foy.

Foy plays the leading role Queen Elizabeth in the Netflix series, while the former Doctor Who actor plays Prince Philip.

Production company Left Bank pictures have since issued a statement on the situation, apologising to the actors.

“We want to apologise to both Claire Foy and to Matt Smith, brilliant actors and friends, who have found themselves at the centre of a media storm this week through no fault of their own,” the company said in a statement to Variety.

“Claire and Matt are incredibly gifted actors who, along with the wider cast on The Crown have worked tirelessly to bring our characters to life with compassion and integrity.

“As the producers of The Crown, we at Left Bank Pictures are responsible for budgets and salaries; the actors are not aware of who gets what, and cannot be held personally responsible for the pay of their colleagues.”

Controversy erupted after producers Suzanne Mackie and Andy Harries revealed the pay gap at the INTV Conference in Jerusalem. The duo claimed that Smith earned money because of his stint on Doctor Who.

Left Bank added in the statement: “We understand and appreciate the conversation which is rightly being played out across society and we are absolutely united with the fight for fair pay, free of gender bias, and for a rebalancing of the industry’s treatment of women, both those in front of the camera and for those behind the scenes.”

Meanwhile, a petition has been started, urging Smith to pay the difference between his pay cheque and Foy’s to the Time’s Up Legal Defence Fund. As of writing, almost 26,00 people have signed the petition, 4,000 away from the final goal.

Smith, Foy, and Netflix have not commented on the situation yet although have been contacted.