Mila Kunis is one of the most recognizable and bankable actors in Hollywood. But it apparently hasn't been an easy climb to the top.
Joining other female actors to speak out against sexism in the entertainment business, Kunis wrote an opinion piece this week that revealed some of the obstacles she's faced over the years. She claims many of the roadblocks were put up simply because of her gender.
She said an unidentified movie producer told her she'd "never work in [Hollywood] again" because she refused to "pose semi-naked on the cover of a men's magazine" to promote the film, which she was in. She said the decision to refuse his request came after past experiences and some personal growth.
"I was livid, I felt objectified, and for the first time in my career I said 'no,'" Kunis wrote. "I was no longer willing to subject myself to a naive compromise that I had previously been willing to."
Kunis went on to reveal more instances of feeling denigrated based on her gender. She also took some responsibility for "allowing it to happen."
"Throughout my career, there have been moments when I have been insulted, sidelined, paid less, creatively ignored, and otherwise diminished based on my gender," Kunis wrote. "And always, I tried to give people the benefit of the doubt; maybe they knew more, maybe they had more experience, maybe there was something I was missing. I taught myself that to succeed as a woman in this industry I had to play by the rules of the boy’s club."
In addition to starring in movies like "Bad Moms," "Ted" and "Oz the Great and Powerful" — the three of which grossed more than a combined $1 billion worldwide — and being a main cast member of hit shows "Family Guy" and "That '70s Show," Kunis founded her own production studio in 2014. Orchard Farm Productions was co-founded with three other women.
She ended the column with the empowering words: "I will work in this town again, but I will not work with you."
Kunis is the latest A-list star to speak out against sexism in Hollywood. In October 2015, Jennifer Lawrence wrote an op-ed about the gender pay gap in the entertainment business. Lawrence said she didn't want to come off as "'difficult' or 'spoiled'" in the early days of her career, when it came to negotiating salary.
Clint Davis covers entertainment and trending news topics for the Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.
