Empire is paying tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman in their latest issue by speaking with those who worked with him over the years. One of the actresses Empire spoke with was Sienna Miller, and she had a never before told story about the actor to share with the publication.
According to Miller, Boseman was instrumental in her being cast as detective Frankie Burns in 21 Bridges. Miller was taking a break from work, her daughter was about to start school, and the actress was not keen on taking on the role, so she asked to be paid a number the studio would decline, but Boseman made sure she was paid what she asked, even if it meant the money was coming out of his own pocket.
“I didn’t know whether or not to tell this story, and I haven’t yet. But I am going to tell it, because I think it’s a testament to who he was,” Miller told the magazine. “This was a pretty big-budget film, and I know that everybody understands about the pay disparity in Hollywood, but I asked for a number that the studio wouldn’t get to… I said, ‘I’ll do it if I’m compensated in the right way.’ And Chadwick ended up donating some of his salary to get me to the number that I had asked for. He said that that was what I deserved to be paid.”
Miller was caught off guard by Boseman’s generosity, which is not something that is typical within the entertainment industry.
“It was about the most astounding thing that I’ve experienced,” she said. “That kind of thing just doesn’t happen. He said, ‘You’re getting paid what you deserve, and what you’re worth.’ It’s just unfathomable to imagine another man in that town behaving that graciously or respectfully.”
Boseman passed away at the age of 43 after a four year battle with colon cancer in August.
