George Clooney claims Sony hack provoked Hollywood discussion over gender pay gap

Actor also said the hacking was an 'abomination'

George Clooney has said one good thing came out of the hacking scandal (Getty)

George Clooney has said there was one good thing to come out of the Sony hacking scandal.

The 54-year-old actor, who married human rights lawyer Amal Clooney earlier this year, said that for the first time “very liberal” Hollywood was starting to discuss the gender pay gap and the lack of female directors.

Last year a huge cache of confidential data belonging to Sony Pictures Entertainment was hacked and released online. Among other embarrassing disclosures, the private emails of a number of top executives revealed the gaping pay disparity between female leading stars and their male counterparts.

In particular, some of the emails suggested that American Hustle actresses Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence were paid considerably less than their male co-stars.

“One good thing that's come out of [the Sony hack] is the conversation in very liberal Hollywood that women aren't being paid the same,” Clooney told the BBC’s Jenni Murray.

“And there's something like 15 female directors in a town of directors," Clooney added.

The discussion, Clooney believes, was “the only good thing that came out of the Sony hack,” which he described as “an abomination”.

He added: "I think it's a very good conversation that they're starting to have."