Priyanka Chopra Jonas Talks Pay Parity With Richard Madden On ‘Citadel’ In SXSW Session With Amazon Studios’ Jennifer Salke

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Amazon Studios & MGM Boss Jennifer Salke and Citadel star Priyanka Chopra Jonas sat down today in what is one of few entertainment business discussions here at SXSW and interviewed each other on an array of topics including pay parity for lead actresses and launching a tentpole series for a global audience.

Spy series Citadel, produced by AGBO’s Russo Brothers, drops its first two episodes on Prime on April 28. While Chopra Jonas was fearless about asking Salke how algorithms factor into programming decisions, a notable takeaway was when the Indian actress revealed she was getting compensated equally with her male lead co-star, Richard Madden (without naming him by name). “I’ve been working in the entertainment industry for 22 years.

I have done about 70-plus features, and two TV shows,” said the actress, “When I did Citadel. I had pay parity with my male actor for the first time in 22 years.” Chopra Jonas asked Salke whether that all occurred because a female executive was running the studio. “There was no question to me that it was the absolute right thing to do,” answered Salke.

The two became friends soon after Salke took the top production post at Amazon Studios. Salke said about coming to the pay parity decision, “I see that change and find it inspiring…It takes a woman in the room to make space for stepping back, taking a pause ….let’s gut-check this” Such decisions “have to be intentional and must become automatic” said Salke who wants to make space for more female content creators to provide their voices to the service.