Rose from “Two and a Half Men“ pursued Charlie Harper with the persistence of someone who never accepts “no“ for an answer. In real life, however, actress Melanie Lynskey found herself forced to pursue the truth about her own fee after claims emerged online that she had earned between $200,000 and $300,000 per episode.
Lynskey rejected those figures in an Instagram comment beneath a post related to her co-star from the series, Holland Taylor. “These absurd figures are circulating all over the internet, and I feel compelled to explain how far they are from the truth,“ the actress wrote.
From $20,000 to around $43,000 per episode
Lynskey specified that she appeared in 63 of the sitcom’s 262 episodes. According to her, she started with a fee of $20,000 per episode, which increased by around 5% per season. More than half of her appearances were in the first two seasons, when her pay was lower.
The largest amount the actress remembers receiving for a single episode was around $43,000 in the final season. She emphasized that this was her gross pay, before deductions for agents, managers and taxes. After those deductions, she said, approximately half of the money remained for her.
“The idea that I amassed millions is completely ridiculous,“ Lynskey said, adding that she did not deny the importance of the money she received. It helped her pay her small mortgage and ongoing bills, as well as appear in independent films while she built her career.
The conversation began with Holland Taylor’s confession
The discussion was prompted by a statement Holland Taylor made on the podcast “Alchemy with Anthony Mason“. The actress, known for playing Evelyn Harper, said that despite her four nominations for an “Emmy“ Award, she had not received a salary increase on the series.
Following Lynskey’s comments, the user who had posted the speculation about her fee apologized. In the ensuing conversation, the actress said that she was 25 when she landed the role and that a few years later she had managed to make a down payment on a home.
Lynskey emphasized that she had been grateful for the work and had never believed that the series belonged to her. “I’m just annoyed when the facts are distorted,“ she wrote. The role of Rose remains one of her most recognizable television characters in “Two and a Half Men“, which aired for 12 seasons between 2003 and 2015.
Sources: marica.bg, au.variety.com, tvinsider.com