Gwyneth Paltrow says pay gap 'feels s***ty'

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow says it 'feels s***ty' being paid less than men. Photo / AP

Gwyneth Paltrow says it "feels s***ty' to earn less money than Robert Downey Jr.

The Iron Man star, who was named the 12th highest paid actress by Forbes this year after raking in $9 million, thinks the wage gap between men and women in Hollywood is "painful," and believes people would be shocked by the "disparity" between her salary and her co-star's for the Marvel films.

The Oscar winner said: "Your salary is a way to quantify what you're worth. If men are being paid a lot more for doing the same thing, it feels s***ty."

The blonde beauty, 43, isn't upset that her close pal Downey Jr, 50, is the world's highest paid actor and earned an estimated $80 million this year, but thinks female stars deserve to receive more money.

Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark/Iron Man and Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts in a scene from Iron Man 3.

She told Variety magazine: "Look, nobody is worth the money that Robert Downey Jr. is worth. But if I told you the disparity, you would probably be surprised."

Earlier this year, Paltrow, who plays Pepper Potts, Tony Stark's assistant-turned love interest in the Iron Man movies, admitted she was unsure of her future with the franchise.

She said: "I'd like to do it [another film]. But they might swap me out for an 18-year-old Pepper Potts or something."

- Bang! Showbiz