You might think fame equals fortune, but don’t count that cash just yet. Soap stars often have to pay for their own hair, makeup, and wardrobe. Yes, you read that right. The character’s glamorous outfits? The actress probably bought them at a discount store and will wear them off-set.
“But wait,” you cry, “they have to look like soap gods and goddesses!” Correct. That means your favorite villainess might be spending $500 a week on lash extensions and spray tans, all out of her own pocket. It’s like a tax for being beautiful.
And then there’s the ghost of syndication. Unlike network primetime stars who get fat residual checks when their show airs in reruns, soap operas are mostly live-to-tape. You get squat when your episode repeats in the middle of the night. Your only residual is the memory of that one time you slapped your co-star.
