Legendary actress Angela Bassett has just become the highest-paid woman of color in a TV drama.
The “9-1-1” star struck a $450K per episode deal with Fox ahead of the hit series’ fifth season, making it among the “the top salaries on network television for any actor, male or female, and could be the highest ever for an actress of color on a broadcast drama series.”
In addition to portraying Athena Grant on the show, Bassett was also involved in creating the TV drama in 2017 alongside Ryan Murphy, and now executive produces it. She also executive produces its spin-off, “9-1-1: Lone Star.”
The 62-year-old’s salary increase was a part of a raise negotiation for the entire cast. Peter Krause, who plays male lead Bobby Nash, got the second-highest increase, bringing in approximately $300K per episode.
Bassett now joins the ranks of Kerry Washington, who ended her tenure on “Scandal” with about $250,000 per episode, and Viola Davis, who was also making about $250,000 per episode during the second season of “How to Get Away With Murder.” That number is rumored to have doubled by the time the series ended.
Season five of “9-1-1” will premiere on Monday, September 20th at 8 p.m.
