Busy Philipps opens up about the thousands spent on red carpet looks

Busy Philipps reveals the financial burden of red carpet ensembles. Photo / AP

Actress Busy Philipps has complained about being “thousands of dollars out of pocket” for her red carpet appearances.

The 44-year-old star — who is currently promoting the third season of Netflix series Girls5Eva — has echoed sentiments voiced by Taraji P. Henson last year and opened up on the financial burden faced by top stars when it comes to their red carpet ensembles.

She told Page Six: “I have to continually hustle. It is so true. With hair, makeup and wardrobe and what it costs — Taraji P. Henson really spoke to that — and I felt it so deeply because I look at the money I am supposedly making and then it is not just the bills, but what is expected of me when I show up at a place.

“The film company or this production company is only going to pay this percentage of your hair, makeup and wardrobe so then you have to make up the rest.

Henson was emotional last year as she reflected on the pay in Hollywood, and how the money has to stretch further than people think. Photo / Getty Images

“So then you are a thousand dollars out of pocket and at the end of the day it’s like, ‘What am I doing?’ Sometimes I think I should just show up a mess at one of these things as a protest.”

Busy admitted she has turned to social media partnerships with big brands to “keep her afloat” alongside her acting career.

She explained: “I am so grateful that in the last 10 years I have been able to partner with so many brands and I monetised my Instagram very early on, and that has kept me afloat in a way where a lot of my dear friends who are actresses have not been as fortunate.”

Last year Empire star Henson, 53, was visibly emotional as she reflected on the pay in Hollywood, and how the money has to stretch further than people think.

Appearing on Gayle King’s Sirius XM show, she said: “I hear people go, ‘You work a lot.’ Well, I have to.

“The math ain’t math-ing. When you start working a lot, you have a team. Big bills come with what we do. We don’t do this alone. It’s a whole team behind us. They have to get paid.”