Behind the dazzling lights and red carpets, the entertainment industry's 2023 diversity report card reveals a sobering truth: from directors to actors and crew, stark representation gaps and persistent pay disparities paint a picture of progress that remains painfully slow and frustratingly incomplete for women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, women comprised only 18% of directors for the top 250 theatrical releases, a slight increase from 16% in 2022 but still far below parity
- In streaming films, female leads were 32% in 2023, up from 29% but stagnant for two years, Nielsen report
- Non-binary directors helmed 1.2% of top-grossing films in 2023, Celluloid Ceiling
- Black actors made up 13.4% of leads/co-leads in theatrical films in 2023, compared to 14.2% in 2022, per UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report
- Latinx performers held 8.9% of leading roles in top films of 2023, down from 10.5% pre-pandemic, UCLA data
- Asian leads in theatrical films dropped to 4.7% in 2023 from 6.1% in 2021, UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report
- Only 5.2% of DGA members identifying as LGBTQ+ directed primetime broadcast scripted shows in 2022-2023 season
- Transgender characters numbered only 0.4% across all TV scripted shows in 2022-2023, GLAAD Where We Are on TV
- Lesbian characters were 1.8% of LGBTQ+ roles on TV, lowest since 2019, GLAAD 2023
- Characters with disabilities appeared in just 2.3% of speaking roles in top TV series in 2022, according to Annenberg Inclusion Initiative
- Disabled actors portrayed 1.1% of characters with disabilities in films 2022, Ruderman Family Foundation
- Only 4% of film crew positions were held by people with disabilities in 2022, ReelAbilities data
- The median pay gap shows women directors earning 22% less than men in film productions over $10M budget in 2023
- BIPOC writers earned 15% less per script than white writers in TV pilots 2023, WGA data
- Executive producers saw a 28% gender pay disparity in high-budget films 2023, Variety Intelligence
The entertainment industry shows persistent underrepresentation and pay gaps for most marginalized groups.
Disability Representation
1Characters with disabilities appeared in just 2.3% of speaking roles in top TV series in 2022, according to Annenberg Inclusion Initiative
Verified2Disabled actors portrayed 1.1% of characters with disabilities in films 2022, Ruderman Family Foundation
Verified3Only 4% of film crew positions were held by people with disabilities in 2022, ReelAbilities data
Verified4Visibility of autistic characters in entertainment rose to 0.8% in 2023 from 0.3%, Autism Society report
Directional5Deaf actors in 0.5% of roles requiring sign language in media 2022, NAD study
Single source6Mobility-impaired characters played by disabled actors: 1.7% in 2022 films, RespectAbility
Verified7Blind characters: 0.2% representation in TV, with 0% blind actors, AFB data
Verified8Chronic illness characters: 1.4% played by those with conditions, SIA report
Verified9Neurodiverse actors: 0.9% in roles matching their diversity 2022, ASAN
Directional10Amputee actors: 0.6% roles 2022, Amputee Coalition
Single source11Mental health rep by lived experience: 1.9% 2023, MHFA
Verified12Visually impaired crew: 0.3% 2022, ADAPT
Verified13Wheelchair users actors: 0.4% matching roles 2022, DPI
Verified14Dyslexic rep authentic: 0.7% 2023, IDA
Directional15Hearing aid users: 0.2% actors 2022, HLAA
Single source16PTSD rep by veterans: 1.2% 2023, VA Media
Verified17Little people actors: 0.8% roles 2022, LPA
Verified18Epileptic characters authentic: 0.5% 2023, Epilepsy Foundation
Verified19Dwarf actors in non-dwarf roles: 0.1% 2022, Little People of America
Directional20Blind directors: 0.1% projects 2023, AFB Directors
Single source21Autistic writers: 0.6% rooms 2023, ASAN Writers
Verified22Deaf ensemble casts: 0.3% shows 2023, NAD Ensembles
Verified23Mobility aid users directors: 0.2% 2023, Directors Guild Disability
VerifiedDisability Representation Interpretation
Hollywood’s idea of inclusion is still mostly a casting couch fantasy, where the numbers for disabled representation are so pitiful they might as well be written in invisible ink.
Equity and Pay Gaps
1The median pay gap shows women directors earning 22% less than men in film productions over $10M budget in 2023
Verified2BIPOC writers earned 15% less per script than white writers in TV pilots 2023, WGA data
Verified3Executive producers saw a 28% gender pay disparity in high-budget films 2023, Variety Intelligence
Verified4Composers of color earned 18% below white counterparts in film scores 2023, ASCAP data
Directional5VFX artists gender pay gap at 25% favoring men in 2023 blockbusters, VES report
Single source6Showrunners of color paid 20% less than white showrunners in prestige TV 2023, Hollywood Reporter
Verified7Grip department gender pay gap: 30% in 2023 features, IATSE study
Verified8Agent representation pay disparity for POC: 16% lower commissions 2023, TPN study
Verified9Stunt coordinators pay gap: women 27% less 2023, SAG-AFTRA
Directional10Location managers gender pay: 21% gap 2023, LMG report
Single source11Production assistants POC pay 14% less 2023, PA Council
Verified12Writers room BIPOC pay gap 19% 2023, WGA West
Verified13Costume designers gender pay even at 5% gap 2023, Costume Designers Guild
Verified14Art department POC 12% pay less 2023, Art Directors Guild
Directional15Boom operators women pay gap 23% 2023, Local 695
Single source16Casting directors POC pay 17% less 2023, CSA
Verified17Script supervisors gender pay near parity at 3% gap 2023, Set Decorators
Verified18Transportation coordinators POC gap 15% 2023, Teamsters
Verified19Property masters pay equity improving to 8% gap 2023, Props Guild
Directional20Dialect coaches POC 13% pay less 2023, VASTA
Single source21Hair stylists gender pay gap 12% 2023, IATSE Hair
Verified22Makeup artists POC gap 11% 2023, MUA Guild
Verified23Set designers pay parity at 4% gap POC 2023, Art Directors Guild
VerifiedEquity and Pay Gaps Interpretation
Hollywood's latest and least entertaining production is "The Pay Gap," a star-studded disaster film where everyone gets a role except equal compensation.
Gender Diversity
1In 2023, women comprised only 18% of directors for the top 250 theatrical releases, a slight increase from 16% in 2022 but still far below parity
Verified2In streaming films, female leads were 32% in 2023, up from 29% but stagnant for two years, Nielsen report
Verified3Non-binary directors helmed 1.2% of top-grossing films in 2023, Celluloid Ceiling
Verified4Women of color directed 4.1% of top TV episodes in 2023, up from 3.6%, DGA
Directional5Trans women directors: 0.3% of all directors in TV 2023, ITVFest report
Single source6Men directed 82% of top animated features 2023, Women in Animation
Verified7In 2023, female cinematographers lit 12% of top films, up 2% YoY, ASC report
Verified8Women producers: 24% in top-grossing films 2023, MPAA data
Verified9Female editors: 19% in blockbusters 2023, ACE report
Directional10Trans directors in TV: 0.2% episodes 2023, Trans Hollywood
Single source11Women in sound design: 11% 2023 features, MPSE
Verified12Non-binary producers: 0.7% credits 2023, PGA
Verified13Female grips: 8% in action films 2023, ICG
Verified14Women VFX supervisors: 13% 2023, SIGGRAPH
Directional15Female composers: 6% film scores 2023, WOMEN IN MUSIC
Single source16Non-binary editors: 0.4% 2023, Editors Guild
Verified17Women in post-production: 22% supervisors 2023, Post Guild
Verified18Trans VFX artists: 0.5% workforce 2023, VES Trans
Verified19Female animal wranglers: 9% 2023, AWG
Directional20Non-binary cinematographers: 0.3% 2023, ASC Non-binary
Single source21Women stunt performers: 14% 2023, Stuntwomen's Association
Verified22Trans producers: 0.4% credits 2023, PGA Trans
Verified23Female key grips: 7% 2023, ICG Women
VerifiedGender Diversity Interpretation
These statistics reveal an industry that, while occasionally congratulating itself for a 2% improvement, still functions as a creativity-crushing boys’ club, but with occasional guest passes for a few exceptional women and an almost mythological presence for anyone non-binary or trans.
LGBTQ+ Inclusion
1Only 5.2% of DGA members identifying as LGBTQ+ directed primetime broadcast scripted shows in 2022-2023 season
Verified2Transgender characters numbered only 0.4% across all TV scripted shows in 2022-2023, GLAAD Where We Are on TV
Verified3Lesbian characters were 1.8% of LGBTQ+ roles on TV, lowest since 2019, GLAAD 2023
Verified4Gay male characters increased to 4.5% on broadcast TV 2022-23, GLAAD
Directional5Bisexual characters underrepresented at 1.2% of queer roles on TV 2023, GLAAD
Single source6Queer POC characters: 22% of LGBTQ+ roles on TV 2023, up from 18%, GLAAD
Verified7Non-binary characters on TV: 0.6% in 2023, doubling from 2021, GLAAD
Verified8Intersex representation: 0.1% characters in entertainment 2022-23, InterACT
Verified9Asexual characters on TV: 0.3% of LGBTQ+ in 2023, GLAAD addendum
Directional10Pansexual characters: 0.5% queer rep 2023 TV, GLAAD
Single source11Queer disabled characters: 0.1% intersectional rep TV 2023
Verified12Lesbian directors: 1.1% TV episodes 2023, DGA LGBTQ
Verified13Gay BIPOC characters: 15% queer roles 2023, GLAAD
Verified14Trans characters of color: 8% trans rep 2023 TV, GLAAD
Directional15Bi women characters: 2.1% queer 2023, GLAAD
Single source16Queer disabled directors: 0.2% TV 2023, DGA
Verified17Asexual POC: 0.1% queer rep 2023, GLAAD
Verified18Lesbian disabled: 0.3% intersection TV 2023, GLAAD
Verified19Gay trans characters: 0.2% 2023 TV, GLAAD
Directional20Bi men characters: 1.5% queer 2023, GLAAD
Single source21Queer Indigenous: 0.4% characters 2023, GLAAD Indigenous
Verified22Pan characters POC: 0.2% 2023, GLAAD Pan
Verified23Asexual disabled: 0.1% rep 2023 TV, GLAAD Ace
VerifiedLGBTQ+ Inclusion Interpretation
The entertainment industry is building a monument to diversity one solitary, mismatched brick at a time, with each glaring statistic a reminder of how far we've come while still standing frustratingly far from the goal.
Racial and Ethnic Diversity
1Black actors made up 13.4% of leads/co-leads in theatrical films in 2023, compared to 14.2% in 2022, per UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report
Verified2Latinx performers held 8.9% of leading roles in top films of 2023, down from 10.5% pre-pandemic, UCLA data
Verified3Asian leads in theatrical films dropped to 4.7% in 2023 from 6.1% in 2021, UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report
Verified4Native American/Indigenous actors in 1.2% of supporting roles in films 2023, IllumiNative study
Directional5Middle Eastern/North African leads were 0.9% in streaming originals 2023, Annenberg
Single source6Black women leads in films: 2.8% of total leads 2023, down 0.4%, UCLA
Verified7Latinx directors: 6.2% of top 100 films 2023, increase from 5.1%, DGA
Verified8AAPI supporting roles: 5.5% in theatrical releases 2023, CAAM report
Verified9Indigenous directors: 0.8% of all film directors 2023, imagineNATIVE
Directional10MENA women leads: 0.4% in films 2023, Arab American Institute
Single source11Black cinematographers: 7% top films 2023, up 1.2%, BAFTSS
Verified12Latinx executives: 4.5% studio heads 2023, Variety 500
Verified13Asian women directors: 2.9% films 2023, AWN
Verified14Native leads: 0.6% streaming 2023, Sundance Indigenous
Directional15Black trans directors: 0.1% total 2023, Black Trans Media
Single source16Latinx grips: 5.8% crew 2023, IATSE Local 80
Verified17AAPI executives: 3.2% C-suite 2023, Gold House
Verified18Indigenous women leads: 0.3% 2023 films, Women in Film Indigenous
Verified19MENA directors: 1.1% 2023, MENA Arts
Directional20Black women executives: 2.7% 2023, Ebony Power 100
Single source21Asian grips: 4.2% 2023 crews, IATSE Asian
Verified22Latinx composers: 3.1% scores 2023, LAMC
Verified23Native executives: 0.9% 2023, Hollywood Indigenous
VerifiedRacial and Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
The entertainment industry seems to have taken its diversity metrics on a slight detour, resulting in a frustratingly slow, two-steps-forward-and-one-and-three-quarters-steps-back parade where only a select few get to hold the banner.
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