Jason Isaacs on Receiving Equal Pay as ‘White Lotus’ Co-Stars: “I Never Work for Money”

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Jason Isaacs expresses his views about getting equal payment as his fellow cast members on “The White Lotus”.

As a devoted admirer, I’m excitedly sharing the news that the talented actor behind Timothy Ratliff, the patriarch of the Ratliff family in Mike White’s successful series, has disclosed to Vulture that each cast member received $40,000 per episode during season three. While this might seem modest for a show of such grandeur, Isaacs asserted it didn’t sway his choice to become part of the esteemed ensemble.

He acknowledged he wasn’t aware it was common knowledge. Indeed, he confirmed this statement. Typically, actors refrain from discussing their pay publicly as it’s often unfairly skewed compared to the work involved – think makeup and funny voices. However, when considering average earnings for major TV shows, the payment is quite modest. Yet, he admitted that if given the opportunity, they would have gladly paid and might have even offered something more significant.

When inquired about not objecting to being compensated similarly to certain of his “White Lotus” cast members with less extensive resumes, like Patrick Schwarzenegger and Aimee Lou Wood, Isaacs stated, “I don’t work for the sake of money.

He went on to say that he’s been managing decently with regards to his finances. However, people might perceive him as having vast amounts of savings, which isn’t true. Regrettably, he’s grown accustomed to spending as much as he earns over time, essentially exhausting his earnings.

After the third season drop of The White Lotus on HBO, producer David Bernad shared with The Hollywood Reporter that everyone involved is treated equally. We pay everyone the same and use alphabetical billing, which means people join our project for genuine reasons, not just for fame like on The Bachelor. This fair system was established during season one when we didn’t have enough funds to make the show.

Meredith Tucker, the casting director, commented on the equal pay policy saying, “It simplifies things greatly. When you inform actors about the rates, some choose not to participate, and that’s understandable since they need to earn a living. However, our main cast members are essentially working for standard pay.

Prior to playing the memorable character Timothy Ratliff, Isaacs had already been garnering audience admiration through numerous other projects he was involved in, such as the Harry Potter series, Star Trek: Discovery, and his breakout role from 2000’s The Patriot alongside Mel Gibson.

In a separate conversation with Vulture, Isaac also disclosed the current state of his friendship with Gibson, post the latter’s controversial anti-Semitic comments during his 2006 arrest for driving under the influence.

He’s acted in ways that are inexcusable and beyond forgiveness,” the actor from Peter Pan stated, acknowledging that he’s distanced himself significantly from his old acting partner after the incident.

Isaacs remembered being invited by his friend to a charity cricket event specifically for Australians in film. He added, ‘If you attend, Mel will be there too.’ To which Isaacs replied, ‘I’d rather not meet Mel.’ It had been a long time since he last saw him following the regrettable anti-Semitic incident that led to his arrest. However, his friend persuaded him saying, ‘Come on, buddy! We’ll raise a substantial amount for charity.’

He went on saying, “So I approached, and Mel was present, and he hollered ‘Jace’ from across the room with a friendly tone. I moved closer and asked, ‘How are you doing, Rabbi Gibson?’ He confessed, ‘I was quite intoxicated last night. I was trying to provoke him to attack me or shoot me. I’m having a tough time.’ And he began to reveal some deeply personal matters. He is not my friend, but – perhaps to my enduring regret – I instantly forgave him because he was laying himself bare.

Later on, Isaac made it clear that he’s not expressing forgiveness towards Mel, but if Mel were to show up at his door tonight and ask for a place to stay because his hotel had been cancelled, Isaac would likely say yes.

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2025-06-17 03:24