Oscar-winning actress Jessie Buckley is set to earn just £140 a day for her upcoming West End stage debut, a significant drop from the multi-million-pound fees she commands for film roles.
The 36-year-old Irish star will appear in Afterbirth, a new play by Nina Segal directed by Maria Aberg, at London's Royal Court Theatre. The production, described as an unflinching look at the reality of life after giving birth, opens in January 2028.
Pay cut for theatre role
Buckley, who won the best actress Oscar eight months ago, is reportedly used to earning up to £5 million for her blockbuster roles. For this theatre run, she will receive the standard 'company rate' paid to performers at the Royal Court, based on West End union agreements.
David Byrne, the theatre's artistic director, confirmed that Buckley's weekly earnings will total £971 for eight performances of Afterbirth.
Speaking to The Times, Byrne said he could tell 'Jessie had an interest in coming back to theatre' and that the Royal Court would 'excite her'. He added that the venue had 'real momentum' and was a 'tantalising proposition for actors, directors, designers and particularly playwrights to engage their talents around a new totally original play… It is untrodden snow.'
Following in A-list footsteps
Buckley is not the first high-profile actor to accept a reduced fee for stage work. Tilda Swinton recently appeared at the 400-seat theatre in Manfred Karge's Man to Man for the same rate, while Gary Oldman and John Lithgow were also paid the same for their performances in the past couple of years.
The role marks a return to the stage for Buckley, who first came to prominence as a contestant on the BBC's I'd Do Anything. She has previously spoken of her admiration for theatre performers.
'I have the upmost respect for musical theatre actors, their dedication to what they do is extraordinary. And fundamentally the two fields are not so different,' she told What's On Stage in 2013.
'This year I've done both, and the way I apply myself in theatre and musical theatre isn't different at all. I think as an actor you have to make choices about the kind of work you want to do and not leave it up to agents or people who want to put you into pigeonholes.'
Hollywood success
Since her early career, Buckley has built a reputation in Hollywood with performances in films such as The Lost Daughter, Men, Women Talking and The Bride!.
In March this year, she won the best actress award at the Academy Awards for her portrayal of Shakespeare's wife in Hamnet, alongside Paul Mescal. She also took home a Golden Globe and a Bafta for the same role.
Afterbirth runs at the Royal Court Theatre from January 15, 2028, until February 26, 2028.
