Matilda star Mara Wilson has revealed she doesn’t make enough money to qualify for Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG-AFTRA) health care in the streaming age, as the Hollywood actors’ union joins screenwriters on strike for the first time. More than six decades.
Taking to Twitter on Thursday after it was announced that the union – which represents around 160,000 actors and entertainers – would join the Writers Guild of America (WGA) on the picket line, the actress wrote: ‘I haven’t acted much as an adult. , but I was in a recurring role on one of the most critically acclaimed animated shows of all time, as well as playing an actual Disney villain.
‘But thanks to streaming, I never once qualified for SAG-AFTRA health care.’
Wilson, 35, shot to fame in 1993 after landing the role of Natalie ‘Natty’ Hillard in Mrs Doubtfire in her first movie audition at the age of six, having previously only appeared in a few television commercials.
Time to change: Bojack Horseman star Mara Wilson reveals she doesn’t make enough money to qualify for SAG-AFTRA healthcare
Keeping it real: Matilda actress shares surprise after Hollywood actors union joins screenwriters’ strike for first time in more than six decades
She played Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street the following year and played the lead role of Matilda Wormwood in 1996’s Matilda – cementing her place as one of the most recognizable child stars of the 90s.
However, as an adult, the former Hollywood darling has taken a big step away from on-camera work, lending her vocal talents to animated shows instead.
In the tweet, the star – who has an estimated net worth of $500,000 – was referring to his roles in the Netflix black comedy, Bojack Horseman and Disney’s Big Hero 6 TV series, respectively.
SAG-AFTRA has often been criticized for their ‘unfair’ requirements for actors to qualify for health coverage.
The agency currently states that ‘you must earn $26,470 in your base earning period to qualify for active plan health coverage.’
Rising stars have often lamented the earnings threshold, while even established Hollywood stars have spoken of receiving insufficient support after their careers.
In March, Charmed star Shannen Doherty, 51, accused SAG-AFTRA of canceling her union health insurance amid her battle with stage four metastatic breast cancer.
When Sharon Stone revealed in 2021 that her insurance was canceled due to unnecessary $13 bills.
Elsewhere, SAG-AFTRA membership rules have long been under fire due to strict rules for eligibility from upcoming actors.
Strict rules: SAG-AFTRA has often been criticized for their ‘unfair’ requirements for actors to qualify for health coverage.
Famous faces: Wilson played the lead role of Matilda Wormwood in 1996’s Matilda – cementing her place as one of the most recognizable child stars of the ’90s
In the tweet, Wilson was referring to his roles in the Netflix black comedy Bojack Horseman (pictured) and Disney’s Big Hero 6 TV series.
The most common way to become a member is to be hired on a union-covered project, although many in Hollywood take years — even decades — before landing a big break on a union project.
Until then, they are forced to either join a sister union or create their own independent projects to qualify for SAGIndie.
Union rules are under scrutiny Thursday morning after it was announced that union leadership had formally voted for a work stoppage after their demands for higher wages and protections against artificial intelligence were not met.
SAG-AFTRA was demanding higher wages to combat inflation and guarantee their future livelihoods.
In addition to a salary while they’re actively working, actors earn money called ‘residuals’ every time a film or show they star in airs on a network or cable – which is especially helpful when the actors are in between projects.
Actress Fran Drescher, president of SAG-AFTRA, announced the union would strike Thursday
But streamers like Netflix and Disney+ don’t disclose viewing figures for their shows and offer the same flat rate for everything on their platforms, regardless of popularity.
Further muddying the waters is AI’s problem. The union wanted ‘a breakthrough AI proposal that preserves the digital likeness of actors.’
Actors are concerned that their digital images may be used without their permission or appropriate compensation.
Announcing the strike Thursday afternoon, actress Fran Drescher, who serves as president of SAG-AFTRA, said: ‘We demand respect! You can’t live without us!
‘What happens to us matters,’ added the Nanny star. ‘What is happening to us is happening in all sectors of labour.
United Front: SAG-AFTRA joins the ongoing WGA strike that has been going on since May
‘When employers make Wall Street and greed their priorities and they forget about the contributors who need to run the machine, we have a problem.
‘The jig is up, we demand respect,’ he said.
Almost immediately, screenwriters outside Netflix’s Hollywood offices began chanting: ‘Pay your actors!’
At the same time, Oppenheimer’s cast walked out of the film’s UK premiere in ‘solidarity’ with the actors’ union.
SAG-AFTRA Strike Rules
All covered services and performance must be withheld under the direction of SAG-AFTRA, including but not limited to:
The main functions of the camera, such as:
Acting Singing Dancing Stunt performing On-camera Flying Puppetry Performance capture or motion capture work
The main functions of off-camera, such as:
ADR/Looping
TV Trailers (Promos) and Theatrical Trailers
Voice acting
Singing NarrationStunt Coordinator and Related Services Stand-In WorkPhoto and/or Body Double Fitting, Wardrobe Test, and Makeup Test Rehearsal and Camera Test Scanning Interviews and Auditions (including via self-tape)
Publicity/publicity services for works under TV/Theatrical contracts, viz:
Tours Personal Appearances Interviews Events Fan Expos Festivals Panels for Your Consideration Events Premieres/Screenings Awards Shows Junkets Podcast Appearances Social Media Studio Showcases
Negotiating and/or entering into and/or consenting to:
A contract to perform future covered services Any new contract related to merchandising in connection with a covered project The creation and use of digital copies, including the reuse of prior work performed in a trailer of a struck production or other ancillary content connected to a struck production