Chadwick Boseman helped pay for co-star Sienna Miller's 21 Bridges salary. Since the Black Panther star's passing almost a month ago, his fans and former colleagues have honored him and the legacy he left behind. Marvel Comics commemorated his passing with a series of tribute covers across their comics. A powerful mural for Boseman was recently unveiled at Disneyland, depicting the actor sharing a Wakandan salute with a child wearing a Black Panther mask, as a tribute to Boseman who visited cancer patients at children's hospitals. Tributes have also poured in from his Marvel co-stars and directors such as Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Ryan Coogler and Lupita Nyong'o.
While Boseman's legendary performance as King T'Challa/Black Panther in four MCU films made him a household name, he played many other roles throughout his career. He most recently appeared in Spike Lee's critically acclaimed war drama film Da 5 Bloods. He also portrayed several iconic figures, like James Brown, Jackie Robinson, and Thurgood Marshall. While Boseman always kept his life outside of work quite private, including his illness, some former co-stars have spoken to his character, showing how generous and impactful he was.
In an interview with Empire, Miller, who starred alongside Boseman in the 2019 cop thriller 21 Bridges, revealed that the actor donated part of his own salary toward Miller's. Boseman, who was also a producer on the film, played a part in casting Miller and fought for her to receive fair pay. Check out Miller's full quote below:
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. 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. And because I was hesitant to go back to work and my daughter was starting school and it was an inconvenient time, 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 went on to say that it was the "most astounding thing" she ever experienced, pointing out how rare of an act Boseman's generosity was, and still is, in Hollywood and that she couldn't imagine another man doing what Boseman did. Miller also said that Boseman's attitude was extremely supportive and that, "there was no showiness, it was, ‘Of course I'll get you to that number, because that's what you should be paid." She stated that she initially did not want to work at the time, but Boseman strongly encouraged her to sign on because he was a fan of hers. Miller is one of a number of Boseman's co-stars who have shared stories of how he personally impacted their lives.
Boseman taking money out of his own salary to ensure that his co-star received the pay she deserved is heartwarming, but not surprising. Whether it was on a film set or in a children's hospital, so many stories have been told of Boseman's real-life heroism since his passing. Without these stories from Miller and other people who knew him, the world would not know about Boseman's generosity and spirit because, like Miller stated, there was no showiness about him. The stories not only celebrate Boseman's life and career, but also illustrate just how the Black Panther star impacted so many lives.
Source: Empire