I support her completely: 'The Crown' star Matt Smith on Claire Foy pay disparity

"The Crown" star Matt Smith has come out in full support of his co-star Claire Foy and addressed the pay disparity controversy on the Netflix royal drama.

According to a Variety report, Foy, who played Queen Elizabeth II on the popular series in seasons one and two, was paid less than Smith - around USD 40,000 per episode on the historical drama.

It is, however, unclear how much Smith, who played Prince Philip in the show in the first two installments, earned.

The 35-year-old actor said Foy was one of his "best friends" and he believes artistes should be paid "equally and fairly".

"Claire is one of my best friends, and I believe that we should be paid equally and fairly and there should be equality for all. I support her completely, and I'm pleased that it was resolved and they made amends for it because that what's needed to happen.

"Going forward, I think we should all bear in mind that we need to strive to make this better and a more even playing field for everyone involved - but not just in our industry, in all industries," Smith told The Hollywood Reporter.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the world premiere of his new biopic "Mapplethorpe" at the Tribeca Film Festival.

It is unclear what Smith was referring to when he said "they made amends for it".

Last month, at a conference in Israel, the producers revealed that Smith earned more than Foy, 34.

Left Bank creative director and executive producer Suzanne Mackie acknowledged that Smith's experience on "Doctor Who" added to the wage gap but pledged, "Going forward, no one gets paid more than the Queen."