Jessica Chastain Tells ES Magazine She Will No Longer Be Paid A Third Less Than Men, Praises Salma Hayek

Actor Jessica Chastain covers the December 1, 2017 issue of London's Evening Standard ES Magazine. Styled by Nicky Yates in ruffled, ruched and pleated looks from Alessandra Rich, Gucci, Givenchy, Prada and more, the 'Molly's Game' star is lensed by Camilla Armbrust. 

Chastain's rep has confirmed that she is one of the growing list of female actors confirming that they will be wearing black to the 2018 Golden Globes, as a symbol of protest against harassment in Hollywood. There are murmurings that the all-black protest will continue throughout the awards season. In addition, the female actors say they will not discuss the typical "who are you wearing?" red-carpet question and will insist that questions be focused on activism and a range of societal and cultural topics heavy on women's rights in America and around the world. 

Jessica Chastain praised Salma Hayek for her Wednesday New York Times op-ed, biting recollection of workplace abuse and sexual intimidation at the hands of Harvey Weinstein. Hayek's focus was the 2002 Miramax biopic 'Frida' , Recalling the making of the film, Hayek wrote:

“I don’t think he hated anything more than the word ‘no,'” Hayek wrote. “And with every refusal came Harvey’s Machiavellian rage.”

“The range of his persuasion tactics went from sweet-talking me to that one time when, in an attack of fury, he said the terrifying words, ‘I will kill you, don’t think I can’t,'” she claimed.

Weinstein's rep released a statement denying “all of the sexual allegations as portrayed by Salma” though the movie mogul admitted to “boorish behavior.”

"I thank you @salmahayek for sharing your story. Your voice is important and needed right now. You are creating a place of great healing," Chastain, 40, tweeted on Wednesday.

"I ask all of our male allies in this industry, why have your journeys been so different from ours?," she added.

In her ES Magazine interview, Jessica Chastain says she is taking a stand against the gender pay gap in Hollywood, adding: “I’m not going to get paid a third less than my male co-star who has equal experience.

"If you want to blackball me for that then OK, but I won’t participate in the disease,” declared Chastain. Clearly the women of Hollywood are not moving towards a defiant embrace of gender equality in Hollywood.