Bradley Cooper backs Jennifer Lawrence on pay gaps

Bradley Cooper responds to an essay written by American Hustle co-star Jennifer Lawrence on the gender pay gap in Hollywood.

Jennifer Lawrence has received positive feedback from Hollywood heavyweights after penning an essay on the movie mecca's gender pay gap.

Bradley Cooper, who starred alongside J-Law in American Hustle, said it was "great" to raise the debate during an E! News interview to promote his latest film Burnt.

"One thing I could say is that's interesting because if you think that you only deserve a certain amount and that's not correct, it's about changing that mindset and sticking up for yourself the way that Sienna [Miller] did," he said. "So that's a great thing."

Miller herself weighed in saying she turned down a play she was keen on creatively after being offered half of what the male lead was being paid.

"It's what we have to start doing, unfortunately - at the expense of our creative dreams," she said.

Lawrence mentioned Cooper, Jeremy Renner and Christian Bale as American Hustle actors who "fought and succeeded in negotiating powerful deals for themselves" - in an essay for Lena Dunham's newsletter, Lenny.

Cooper received nine per cent of back-end profit from the 2014 film, compared to Lawrence's seven per cent.

The 25-year-old actress was named the world's highest-paid actress by Forbes magazine on $52 million, but felt there were still inequality issues that should be addressed.

Harry Potter actress Emma Watson showed her support for Lawrence on Twitter, as did Elizabeth Banks and actress Jessica Chastain.

O Jennifer Lawrence I love you so. X

— Emma Watson (@EmmaWatson) October 13, 2015

I love Jennifer Lawrence. http://t.co/x2jAbnUsmy

— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) October 13, 2015

Yessssssss! Get it girl xx https://t.co/L3w0nNnqGQ

— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) October 13, 2015

In her essay, Lawrence took the blame for not fighting harder to get a better pay packet in American Hustle, which also stars Amy Adams.

She went on to mention there was an underlying pressure to be liked in the industry.

"When the Sony hack happened and I found out how much less I was being paid ... I didn't get mad at Sony. I got mad at myself," she wrote.

- nzherald.co.nz