Bold statement: Pay inequities in Hollywood aren’t just poor practice—they’re a barrier that directly affects real lives, including one of Ahsoka’s own. And this is the part most people miss: compensation isn’t just about money in the bank; it signals how the industry values (and supports) women who juggle demanding careers with home responsibilities. Claudia Black is speaking out to illuminate that reality.
Claudia Black, who portrayed Nightsister Klothot in the first season of Disney+’s Ahsoka, recently expanded on her decision to exit Season 2 over pay. While promoting Spartacus: House of Ashur on Starz, she told Bleeding Cool that Disney, which now structures deals differently, could not meet her financial needs as a single mother responsible for at-home duties while filming in London. This gap ultimately led to her departure from the second season.
In a recent discussion with The Hollywood Reporter, Black elaborates on why speaking up matters: the everyday financial and logistical pressures faced by women in the industry, particularly single mothers, are often invisible. She reveals that during the first season her compensation was far from the six-figure sums some fans assume, instead staying near her earnings from her late teens or early twenties.
Black further notes that in corporate settings—though not naming Disney specifically—there are conversations about actors being “lucky” to be part of a franchise, accepting modest pay or screen credit with the hope of later opportunities. Her critique centers on how this mindset ignores the unequal distribution of household and caregiving labor shouldered by women, especially those balancing motherhood with high-profile acting gigs.
Despite the financial tensions, Black emphasizes gratitude for her supportive community and acknowledges that a change is needed in how these discussions are conducted. She believes there is power in stepping back and raising the issue, even at the risk of instability in a business already marked by uncertainty and limited psychological safety for women who speak up.
Black clarifies that her decision wasn’t a personal slight against Disney. She understands the industry’s delicate balance and recognizes that negotiators may not fully know her screen credits or her long career. Yet she has received widespread encouragement from directors, actors, and crew members across the industry in the wake of her remarks, highlighting the broader appetite for acknowledging the realities of job security in entertainment.
Her comments also tie into ongoing conversations about equality that followed the MeToo era, aiming to spark discussions about the systemic disparities in how women are treated and compensated. She stresses that while her experience with Ahsoka wasn’t necessarily negative, the broader issue remains: invisible labor, such as household management, is rarely valued as part of a performer’s worth.
In Ahsoka’s first season (2023), Black was one of three Dathmiri Nightsisters of Peridia who assisted Grand Admiral Thrawn by employing dark magic to resurrect an army of undead soldiers and influence fate. After deciding to leave Season 2, she informed Ahsoka creator Dave Filoni by email, thanking him for the experience and explaining her reasons, including the burnout from taking a substantial pay cut for Season 1 in order to be part of the Star Wars universe.
Black hopes her openness will help others recognize the need for change in how business is run in this space. She emphasizes that her intention is not to vilify individuals but to shed light on the broader structure and to advocate for fair compensation that reflects the realities of women’s lives. If the industry wants to recruit and retain talented veteran performers who bring a wealth of experience, it must address these pay and parity concerns.
Lucasfilm declined to comment on the matter.
Note: Black’s Season 2 departure was the only recast required for Ahsoka’s move from the U.S. to the U.K., apart from the industry-wide passing of Ray Stevenson in 2023, who played Baylan Skoll in Season 1.
