Sony cyber hack reveals bosses wanted to pay Jennifer Lawrence less than American Hustle male co-stars

Sony Pictures bosses are facing yet more embarrassment after hackers revealed Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence was paid less than her male co-stars in American Hustle.

More leaked emails show Lawrence was paid less than her male co-stars, including Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Renner, despite Lawrence's ever-growing profile and popularity, The Daily Beast reports.

According to the Beast, an email dated 5 December sent to Sony co-chair Amy Pascal from Andrew Gumpert, president of business affairs and administration for Columbia Pictures, read: “Got a steve warren/gretchen rush call that it’s unfair the male actors get 9% in the pool and jennifer is only at 7pts.” Warren and Gretchen are understood to be Lawrence’s legal representatives.

The email continued: “You may recall Jennifer was at 5 (amy was and is at 7) and WE anted in 2 extra points for Jennifer to get her up to 7. If anyone needs to top jennifer up it’s megan. BUT I think amy and Jennifer are tied so upping JL, ups AA.”

The AA referred to in this email is Amy Adams and Megan is reported to be Megan Ellison, head of Annapurna Pictures, which co-financed American Hustle. Adams is a five-time Oscar-nominated actress.

The final percentage the actors were paid is unknown.

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Gumpert added, “The current talent deals are: O’Russell: 9%; Cooper: 9%; Bale: 9%; [Jeremy] Renner: 9%; Lawrence: 7%; Adams: 7%.”

Pascal responded to the email discussing the pay disparity between Lawrence and her co-stars with: “there is truth here.”

Previous leaked emails between Pascal and film producer Scott Rudin saw Angelina Jolie branded a 'minimally talented spoiled brat' and Michael Fassbender discussed in a dismissive manner in others.

Pascal and Rudin also found themselves facing more serious accusations of racism when cyber hackers leaked email conversations suggesting President Barack Obama would prefer films with African-American leads or themes.

The private emails were leaked after Sony was targeted by hackers identified in US media as Guardians of Democracy who released a trove of internal company data and emails.

Pascal released a statement on Thursday apologising for the content of the emails. “The content of my emails were insensitive and inappropriate but are not an accurate reflection of who I am,” she said. “Although this was a private communication that was stolen, I accept full responsibility for what I wrote and apologise to everyone who was offended.”

Rudin, who produced The Social Network and Captain Phillips among others, has also publicly apologised. “Private emails between friends and colleagues written in haste and without much thought or sensitivity, even when the content of them is meant to be in jest, can result in offense where none was intended,” he told Deadline.

“I made a series of remarks that were meant only to be funny, but in the cold light of day, they are in fact thoughtless and insensitive — and not funny at all. To anybody I’ve offended, I’m profoundly and deeply sorry, and I regret and apologise for any injury they might have caused.”

Sony Pictures did not immediately respond to a request for comment.