Matt Smith speaks out about The Crown's pay gap row

Matt Smith has spoken up to support his co-star Claire Foy, after it emerged she had been paid less than him for her role in Netflix's The Crown.

Foy starred as The Queen in the hit drama series, while Smith played Prince Philip. "Claire is one of my best friends, and I believe that we should be paid equally and fairly and there should be equality for all," Smith told the Hollywood Reporter.

"I support her completely, and I'm pleased that it was resolved and they made amends for it because that what's needed to happen," continued Smith, 35. 

"Going forward, I think we should all bear in mind that we need to strive to make this better and a more even playing field for everyone involved – but not just in our industry, in all industries."

Last month, producer Suzanne Mackie attributed the pay-gap to Doctor Who star Smith's higher public profile at the time of casting. She promised that there would no such issue when The Crown returns for a third series, with Olivia Colman and and Tobias Menzies taking over the lead roles. “Going forward, no one gets paid more than the Queen,” Mackie said.

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In March, a petition was launched calling on Smith to donate the difference between his salary and Foy's to the sexual inequality campaign group Time's Up. The petition has so far has garnered more than 45,000 signatures.

In response, the show's production company Left Bank Pictures urged fans not to blame the cast for the pay-gap.

"We want to apologize to both Claire Foy and to Matt Smith," the statement read. "As the producers of The Crown, we at Left Bank Pictures are responsible for budgets and salaries; the actors are not aware of who gets what and cannot be held personally responsible for the pay of their colleagues."