Greek actress Peggy Trikalioti has spoken out about gender discrimination and pay inequality in the acting industry during an appearance on the ERTnews television show Enas kai enas on Friday night.
Trikalioti revealed that she once wept at home after learning that a male colleague was paid exorbitantly more than her for a comparable role. She made the statements while discussing the persistent workplace challenges facing female performers.
Emotional impact of pay disparity
Describing the incident from her career, Trikalioti explained that discovering the income gap caused her intense emotional distress once she returned home. She said she did not cry in front of others at work, but went home and wept because she felt society would never change regardless of her professional ability, praise, or applause.
Trikalioti stated that receiving equal pay alongside male co-stars of the same age group with equivalent roles is an exception rather than the rule in entertainment. She added that she has never earned the same salary as a male co-star of her own age who shared an identical role size in a production.
Gender double standards in the workplace
The actress also highlighted double standards in how male and female behavior is evaluated by employers and colleagues. She observed that when a woman reacts or voices a disagreement at work, she is viewed as whiny, whereas if a man does the same thing, he is seen as decisive.
Trikalioti attributed this dynamic to a societal structure built by men for men. She further noted that women themselves can be particularly harsh toward female peers because of how they have been socialized within that system.
Box office dynamics and producer decisions
Addressing the financial factors behind pay disparities in show business, Trikalioti outlined how theatrical producers make compensation decisions. She noted that women outnumber men in the acting profession, creating distinct market conditions for male leads.
She explained that producers often believe attractive male actors draw larger followings of female fans and young women, generating higher box office ticket sales. According to Trikalioti, this leads producers to conclude that a male star brings in more revenue than a female counterpart and to pay them accordingly.
Background on the actress and broadcaster
Peggy Trikalioti is a prominent Greek theatre, film, and television actress who trained at the Karolos Koun Art Theatre Drama School in Athens and has won major theatrical awards in Greece. Over a career spanning several decades, she has performed in classical dramas as well as contemporary stage productions.
ERTnews is the dedicated 24-hour news television channel operated by ERT, the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, which serves as Greece's national public broadcaster. The interview program Enas kai enas features in-depth discussions with figures from politics, culture, and public life.
Trikalioti appeared on the broadcast on Friday night on the occasion of her participation in a new theatrical production.
