To me, Evan Rachel Wood has always been one of the best actresses of her generation. I’ve always had high hopes for her career, and I don’t know how to feel about her new role on HBO’s Westworld. I mean, it’s HBO so you know it will be great quality. But I did think that ERW could have been major. Maybe she never wanted that. Or maybe she did want that and she was thwarted by structural inequalities in Hollywood. ERW gave an interview to Time/Motto about her bisexuality (she came out as bisexual years ago) and wage equality. Some highlights:

Whether there’s a backlash against female-led films: “Well the funny thing is, I don’t think people have a problem. I think it’s assumed because it’s a male-driven world and lot of entertainment decisions are made mainly by men. We’re getting better about it but the misconception that if it’s female-driven, you’re gonna alienate people—that does men a disservice because you’re not letting them into that world and to really see women as people …We just have to give people a chance and give these films a chance and let the audience decide. Stop assuming that men are things incapable of empathy. It’s almost insulting to men!”

What she wants people to know about bisexual people: “I think because we’re usually erased, people just don’t have the information. There’s so many negative connotations with that label. I understand the argument about labels and the desire to do away with them altogether. I think that’s a great idea. But before that we have to give people a chance to identify with somebody or a group in some way. That helped me. It’s so confusing, especially when there’s not a lot of information out there … Erasure is causing people harm and diminishing self-esteem and putting people in harm’s way. It’s a real need. I want people to know that it’s ok, [bisexuality] is valid, and their stories matter.

How to change the narrative around bisexuality: “Sharing stories is a good start. It’s time to be vulnerable and honest and to not be ashamed. For so long, I was ashamed. You’re dealing with the shame that the world has imposed upon you and then on top of that the shame of identifying that way. You’re totally looked down upon in and out of the LGBT community. A good way to combat that and the stereotypes is to be vocal.

Her defense of Amber Heard: “People associate [bisexuality] with deviant behavior and it somehow justifies someone not being worthy … It’s bulls—t! And just there for headlines and it does not help the problem. Especially because when people refer to [Heard] they didn’t use that word until it was necessary. It was an easy target and it was unfair.”

Whether she’s experienced wage inequality: “Oh my God, so many times. I’ve dated and was married to an actor, and there was transparency there in our salaries. It was staggering, the difference. Even with people I feel like I’m on par with, the difference is miles away from each other. There was one specific role that I won’t mention by name, but I was the lead and they wanted me and another actor who didn’t have any credits. There’s me working consistently since I was three or five years old, and I work hard, and yet they weren’t going to give me top billing because I wasn’t a man. I’ve had to start turning down roles because they won’t pay me enough. It’s funny because the people who don’t believe me are usually men and I’m like, “What would you know about it?!”

[From Time]

I have bisexual friends, and they agree completely with what ERW says here. And you have to look no further than how Amber Heard’s bisexuality was treated within both legit and tabloid media during the immediate aftermath of her divorce filing. The silver lining in that situation was that Amber Heard’s situation actually did raise awareness of the false and defamatory narratives around bisexuality, and not just that, but Heard’s case ended up reminding people that bisexual women are just as likely/even more likely to be the victims of assault.

As for what ERW says about the industry and pay equality… it’s so depressing that she’s had to face that throughout her career. Ugh.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.