Good morning. Second lady Usha Vance is set to visit Greenland, a Zuckerberg sibling has launched a new fund, and a new film about activist Lilly Ledbetter is being released on Equal Pay Day.
Lilly Ledbetter gained national attention in 2008 with a significant speech at the Democratic National Convention. She was a former employee of Goodyear from Alabama who filed a lawsuit against the tire company in 1998 for discrimination after discovering she was paid less than male colleagues throughout her time there. Initially, she was awarded over $3 million in damages, but this was overturned on appeal and then lost at the Supreme Court due to a statute of limitations technicality. The time limit for filing the lawsuit was calculated from her first paycheck rather than her last.
Ledbetter became a prominent figure on the 2008 Democratic campaign circuit, and when President Barack Obama assumed office, the first legislation he signed was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This Act rectified the loophole that had hindered Ledbetter’s case. Although she did not receive any financial compensation from Goodyear, she became a pivotal advocate for Democratic issues. Days like Equal Pay Day, which signifies how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned the previous year, highlight the relevance of her activism.
Ledbetter’s transformation from a factory worker to a Democratic activist is depicted in the film “Lilly,” with Patricia Clarkson portraying her. After a screening in New York City, Clarkson expressed that she accepted the role to ensure Ledbetter’s story continued to inspire, drawing parallels with her own challenges for equal pay in Hollywood.
Clarkson recalled being underpaid during the first two decades of her career, and despite efforts to challenge it, she often had to acquiesce due to job necessity. She noted that Hollywood is currently more scrutinized, preventing unequal pay practices.
Rachel Feldman, the film’s writer and director, chose Clarkson, who is from New Orleans, to embody Ledbetter’s resilience and Southern background. “Lilly” combines fictional storytelling with real footage featuring renowned figures like Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Hillary Clinton, emphasizing Ledbetter’s societal impact. The film showcases her advocacy, the adversities she faced, such as harassment, and her personal life, particularly her marriage. The theatrical release is scheduled for May 9.
Ledbetter passed away in October 2024, and Clarkson never had the opportunity to meet her. Clarkson explained that she typically avoids meeting the people she portrays until after shooting, to ensure her performance remains authentic. Although they planned to meet at a film festival, Ledbetter’s health declined. Despite this, Ledbetter viewed and appreciated the finished film, as stated by Feldman.
Feldman expressed her approach in creating the film, focusing on the personal sacrifices involved in activism rather than a political stance. She aimed to capture the story of an ordinary woman who achieved extraordinary accomplishments and explored the personal costs, including those to Ledbetter’s family.
This report was originally published on Fortune.com.
