He has made millions climbing the showbiz ladder since Coronation Street to Dr. Foster, but Suranne Jones isn’t too proud to join the ranks of celebrities taking cash for autographs and selfies with fans.
the star of knight jack – the BBC Drama about a 19th-century lesbian landowner that was cancelled last week after just two seasons, is headlining at a convention where fans will get the chance to ‘meet and greet’ her for £80.
The appearance of Mrs Jones, who is worth an estimated £3.6 million, is a sign, observers say, that even the most successful actors have come to recognize the need for financial security after the havoc wrought. due to the pandemic.
Before Gentleman Jack, Mrs. Jones, 43, spent four years on Coronation Street. She hit the big time on itv by Scott & Bailey and with the title role in BBC’s Dr. Foster.
Suranne Jones and Sophie Rundle in the television series Gentleman Jack
She will be joined at the FanFusion convention in Birmingham next month by Sophie Rundle, her co-star in Gentleman Jack, where they shared passionate love scenes.
As the biggest name in FanFusion, Ms. Jones’s rates are the highest: £37.50 for an autograph and £54 for a selfie, and she’ll only appear on the last day.
Fans can pay to have their picture taken with 34-year-old Mrs Rundle and Mrs Jones for £90.
While the idea of stars with thriving careers getting paid for autographs and selfies offends some, fans have been paying to meet actors since the first Comic-Con convention in 1970 in California.
But few active actors from traditional television series or period dramas would star in fan conventions. That all changed with Covid, according to a prominent talent manager.
Professor Jonathan Shalit said: ‘Covid was a wake-up call for many actors.
“Actors with no savings were suddenly jobless for over a year.
Suranne Jones in the acclaimed television series Gentleman Jack
“Elite actors wouldn’t touch this kind of thing in the past, but now people realize that being able to pay their bills and have financial security is really important.”
He added: ‘Suranne Jones is a fantastic Bafta-winning actress, but she is not a world star. The money that she earns will not be as big as you might think. TV dramas in the UK don’t pay a fortune.
“Signing autographs is a win-win: you can earn money and the public knows you, it gives them a lot of pleasure.”
The FanFusion convention is billed as “a three-day convention with the goal of celebrating women in television, film, and the arts.” Organizers say it will be held “with a slim margin”, although tickets cost between £120 and £1,000. On his website, the organizer added: “FanFusionUK is dedicated to providing a safe and positive environment for all fandoms to honor representation.”
Eight lesser-known actresses from shows like The 100, Xena, Lost Girl, Good Witch and Wynonna Earp will attend.
Mrs Jones and Mrs Rundle, who declined to comment, have attracted a cult following for their on-screen romance in 1830 Yorkshire in Gentleman Jack, which became a hit for the BBC but was withdrawn by its American sponsors HBO. .
Two years ago, The Mail on Sunday revealed that Ms Rundle, whose credits include Peaky Blinders and Bodyguard, had made more prime-time terrestrial television appearances than anyone in the previous two years.
Good job Sherlock… £240,000 to pose in public!
Even some of Britain’s biggest stars have been drawn to the seductive combination of meeting fans and increasing bank balance.
Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch, whose roles in Hollywood films including The Power Of The Dog and the Avengers series netted him an estimated £30 million fortune, has reportedly earned £240,000 posing for more than 3,000 photos with fans in a 2017 convention.
Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch, whose roles in Hollywood films including The Power Of The Dog and the Avengers series netted him an estimated £30 million fortune, has reportedly earned £240,000 posing for more than 3,000 photos with fans in a 2017 convention
His earnings at the London Film and Comics Convention could have been even bigger with fans at the two-day event shelling out £85 for an autograph and £25 to hear him speak to an audience along with £75 for a selfie.
The following year, some fans complained about the high prices former Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi charged at London Comic-Con, at £75 for an autograph and £65 for a photograph with the star.
Talent manager Jonathan Shalit said: ‘Comic-Con has really made fan events massive around the world.
“The people involved can sit at a table and make a lot of money, over £10,000 in one day.”