Zendaya’s leading role on HBO Max’s Euphoria has made her the youngest black actress to earn $1 million per episode, but one other TV icon paved the way first
Zendaya has secured her place in television’s hall of fame as the youngest black actress to earn over $1 million per episode, that’s about £773k each time. Zendaya’s leading role as Rue Bennet on HBO Max’s drama series, Euphoria, will see her earn millions, in addition to her credit as executive producer.
The 28-year-old’s HBO renegotiated contract places her in the ranks of only one other black television actress to earn over $1 million per episode: Kerry Washington. Washington previously held the title of highest paid black television actress for her role in Shonda Rhimes’ long-running series Scandal, earning a reported $800,000 (£618,000) per episode.
Washington went on to break her own record a few years later, earning an estimated $1 million per episode for acting and producing the Hulu series Little Fire Everywhere. Washington and Reese Witherspoon, who co-starred and co-produced the series, earned similar pay for their roles in the series, though the discrepancy between black and white leading actresses has been well-documented.
Fellow Shonaland actress, Ellen Pompeo, took home a £15 million annual salary in 2018 for her role on Grey’s Anatomy. In addition to earning £444,000 per episode, Pompeo also took home a seven-figure signing bonus and equity points in the series estimated to be worth £10 million.
Pompeo reflected on the airing of her annual salary in an interview with Alex Cooper on the Call Her Daddy podcast earlier this week. Pompeo explained: “My manager said at the time something to me that literally hit me like a brick. He said: ‘Are you ready to be unpopular?’”
There was mixed reaction to Pompeo’s public disclosure of her earnings, with many calling out the fact women of colour are typically paid less for leading roles. Viola Davis, who starred in another Shona Rhines production How To Get Away With Murder has been vocal about being paid less than her white co-stars.
In a now viral video, Davis shared at the 2018 Women in the World conference that she has had to “hustle for her worth”. Davis herself earned £193,000 per episode for her leading role in HTGAWM, still ranking among the highest paid actresses in the world.
Zendaya’s new HBO contract now places her amongst the ranks of other white television actresses in the one-million-per-episode club, including Elisabeth Moss for The Handmaid’s Tale, Kaley Cuoco for The Big Bang Theory, Sarah Jessica Parker for Sex and the City and Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon for Big Little Lies.
In 2020, at age 24, Zendaya’s role in Euphoria also saw her become the youngest recipient of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, winning for her role as Rue Bennett in the HBO drama series Euphoria. After winning the award again at the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards, she became the youngest two-time acting winner.
The third season of Euphoria is set to air in 2026, with production only commencing last month. According to HBO Head of Drama, Francesca Orsi, the upcoming season will likely mark the end of the series.
Orsi told Deadline: “We’ve talked about it, I don’t think anything is over until it’s over, but it’s been discussed that this is the end,” she said. “I think you will be very satisfied with this season, and how we bring each of the characters’ whole narrative.”
Fans of the show are already disheartened that stars like Storm Reid and Barbie Ferreirra and the late Angus Cloud will be missing from the upcoming season. But Sharon Stone, Rosalia and other big names are set to make cameos.