In an excerpt from CNN, singer and actress Beyoncé wrote, “We have to teach our boys the rules of equality and respect, so that as they grow up, gender equality becomes a natural way of life. And we have to teach our girls that they can reach as high as humanly possible.” The legendary performer has always been vocal about inequality across identifiers like race and gender. Indeed, speaking up about inequality is the first step toward progress. The second step is taking action. Often, this entails donating resources, such as time or money, to advocacy groups like Equal Rights Advocates. Significantly, Beyoncé and others who speak out against inequality have donated millions to help those in need.

According to Harvard Business Review, women still earn 17% less than men with various factors in place. Yet, even when those factors are removed, women still make an average of $11 an hour less compared to their male counterparts. Of course, pay inequality extends beyond gender into other identifiers like race and age despite laws against discrimination. Many actors, like Chris Pratt, will help to negotiate higher salaries for their co-stars, as he did most recently for Bryce Dallas Howard on Jurassic World. However, many actresses aren’t as lucky and must rely on themselves or other actresses to stand beside them. Even then, this solidarity typically is not enough to make significant progress. Here’s a look at some actresses who have advocated for equal pay in Hollywood.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

9 Jessica Chastain

     20th Century Studios

In an interview with Variety, Jessica Chastain spoke in support of Jennifer Lawrence’s open letter to Hollywood: “Sometimes when you’re doing well, you’re afraid to say something’s wrong…There’s no reason why [Jennifer Lawrence] should be doing a film with other actors and get paid less than her male co-stars.” Every person who speaks out needs support, which furthers the message and inspires others to put action behind their words.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

8 Gillian Anderson

     Fox

The X-Files was one of the biggest sci-fi shows of the 1990s. Gillian Anderson, who portrays Special Agent Dana Scully, has remained a fan favorite in shows like Hannibal, The Fall, and Sex Education for over 30 years. Despite her success, Fox initially offered Anderson half the pay of her co-star Dave Duchovny. Eventually, Fox paid Anderson and Duchovny the same salary for the revival, but it took several years of advocacy on Anderson’s part.

7 Meryl Streep

     20th Century Fox

The Devil Wears Prada’s Meryl Streep has said that when she turned 40, she was offered the same role three times: the witch. Yet, actors who are 40+ in roles of the father starting a new family with a woman half his age, wise sages, and adventurers. Streep may be the fifth-highest-paid actress, but she’s the only actress in the top five over 60 years old, according to Forbes. Hollywood’s youth-obsessed culture often means women ‘of a certain age’ will receive slim pickings, like Streep experienced.

6 Viola Davis

     ABC

In an interview with Good Morning America, Viola Davis revealed why women in Hollywood don’t discuss their salaries: “A huge part of that, I’ll say, is ego. [Ego] because you don’t want people to know that you make less than what they think you make.” The underbelly of that ego is competitiveness, of course, but progress begins by looking in the mirror and dismantling our egos, especially when you’re a Black or brown woman.

5 Charlize Theron

     Universal Pictures

Charlize Theron portrays a badass woman with ease. One reason she gracefully plays these characters is due to her real-life advocacy for equal pay. In fact, the Sony hack revealed that Theron was paid significantly less than the lead male actor in Snow White and the Huntsman. After advocating to receive equal pay, her win proves that women have power in negotiating their salary.

4 Sandra Oh

     Touchstone

According to the National Partnership, the median salary of women of Asian descent varies between $30K and $40K. Similarly, in Hollywood, Asian actresses and actors face paralleling pay discrepancies, as Sandra Oh has experienced. When Grey’s Anatomy first aired, Oh and fellow lead actress Ellen Pompeo were paid the same salary per episode. While salary negotiations for Oh were complicated as the show went on, she is now being paid as a lead actress should.

3 Octavia Spencer

     SpringHill Entertainment

For her Netflix series Madam C.J., Octavia Spencer recalls how the show’s executive producer LeBron James intervened in salary negotiations to guarantee equal pay. According to People, Spencer informed the Sundance Festival attendees, “We need all our male counterparts to be in the fight with us.” The fight for equal pay relies on collaboration rather than conflict. Women are inherently powerful, but when men use their power to uplift us, we go much further.

2 Gabrielle Union

     Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films

When Gabrielle Union was named as executive producer of L.A.’s Finest, not only did she personally select Jessica Alba, but she made sure her fellow actress was paid fairly. She told USA Today, “Because of the way my deal is set up, I had no problem giving back money to make sure Jessica Alba gets paid what Jessica Alba is worth. But you have to have the studio, the network, everyone to sign off on that.” Union is using her platform for positive change for all women in Hollywood.

1 Oprah Winfrey

     OWN

Producers, writers, and showrunners do not make millions, even on successful shows or films until someone like Oprah Winfrey gets involved. Winfrey used her leverage on her show when she learned the producers of The Oprah Winfrey Show were being paid the same while she significantly made more as the show progressed. Not surprisingly, her boss questioned why young women needed more money to which Winfrey said, “Well, either they’re gonna get raises, or I’m gonna sit down. I will not work unless they get paid.”