Patricia Clarkson Advocates for Equal Pay as Lilly Ledbetter in New Biopic

NEW ORLEANS, La. — Oscar-nominated actress Patricia Clarkson stars as Lilly Ledbetter in a new biopic that explores the life of the equal pay advocate. The film, titled ‘Lilly,’ opens in theaters nationwide on May 9.

Ledbetter became a prominent figure in the fight for gender pay equality after discovering she was being paid significantly less than her male colleagues at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in Alabama. She filed a lawsuit against the company, but in 2007, the Supreme Court ruled against her due to a time limit on filing the claim. This setback led to the enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act by President Barack Obama in 2009.

Clarkson recently expressed her commitment to Ledbetter’s message, suggesting that women consider a form of protest against the current administration. “Do not go after this — there will be a Lysistrata moment,” she stated in an interview, referencing a historic play where women withheld sex to influence men in power.

The film delves into Ledbetter’s journey, highlighting her struggles as a working-class mother and her relentless pursuit of equity in the workplace. Clarkson revealed that she drew inspiration for her portrayal from her own mother, a trailblazing politician in New Orleans.

“They had similar DNA that came to me as I was doing these scenes,” Clarkson said about the connection between her mother and Ledbetter.

As Clarkson prepared for the role, she chose not to meet the real Ledbetter, who sadly passed away just days after attending the film’s premiere at the Hamptons International Film Festival. “I felt the best gift I could give this remarkable human being was to try to just be her,” Clarkson remarked.

The film is directed by Rachel Feldman and aims to inspire discussions about the importance of equal pay across all demographics. “Equal pay is a human rights issue,” Clarkson said, urging people to understand its significance beyond political affiliations.

“When women make equal pay, everybody wins,” she concluded, reinforcing the universal impact Ledbetter’s legacy continues to have.