'Where the f**k is Ben Affleck?': Why Hollywood's biggest stars haven't been seen striking.

The A-listers are in a lose-lose situation.

If there is a group of people it's hard to feel sorry for because of career and money, Hollywood's most famous faces are near the top of the pile. But let's push on. Because they are nowhere to be seen, and it's weird.

The actors' union, SAG-AFTRA, has been striking for two weeks now, joining writers who have been on picket lines since May. This has effectively shuttered all US-based production of film and scripted television, as well as many overseas shoots.

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Ever since, picket lines have been permanent fixtures outside the headquarters of entertainment's bigwigs, especially in Los Angeles and New York City. 

Each day, members of SAG have lined up with their signs and demanded change in their industry. 

The sad reality of their industry, however, is that a select few people have a much louder voice than even thousands of your 'average' working actors. And those voices aren't out there yelling.

As one protester put it to Variety, there has been a "palpable" lack of headliners.

No disrespect to those who have shown up, I'm sure; Daniel Radcliffe, Lupita Nyong'o, Mark Ruffalo and plenty of others are certainly massive stars.

But what about Hollywood's upper UPPER echelon? Its quintessential faces. The old school movie stars. The MEGA famous. The ones even the most clueless of grandparents would recognise.

You know who they are. The Leonardo DiCaprios. The Julia Roberts'. The Denzel Washingtons. And the Tom Cruises.

As one extremely funny protestor's sign said, "where the f**k is Ben Affleck?"

Image: Getty.

Those are the names with connections and relationships with the heads of studios, whose more visible support (Leo, for what it's worth, did post a message of solidarity on Instagram), could have more sway. That's just the sad reality of showbiz, or perhaps just all biz. 'It's not what you know, but who you know' is a cliche for a reason.

It's not that they don't support the cause. In June, before official action was called, some of these stars — including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence — put their signatures to a letter threatening to strike. Affleck, along with his bestie Matt Damon, started a production company that aims for "more equitable" profit sharing for its creatives.

So why aren't they actually, physically, there?

I guess if we think practically, maybe there are security issues with having dozens of the world's most famous people congregate on the side of a street. Or maybe they're of the opinion that they, with their $200m+ net worths, are a distasteful face for the issues at hand.

The strike has been dealing with a perception issue from the start, simply because when we think 'actors', we think 'George Clooney' over 'character actor who started in a three-episode arc in our favourite sitcom'. And the idea of George Clooney demanding more money is not super appealing to us mere mortals.

That's why one of the strike's most interesting, but also derided, actions have come in the form of stars sharing their residual cheques — which often come to totals of just cents — on platforms like TikTok, showing their audiences just how unsustainable the current situation is for those who can't demand a Clooney-style payday.

Australian Luke Cook, who has held recurring roles in shows like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Dynasty and Dollface, has become one of the online faces of the strike since he used his TikTok account to share the not-so-glam realities of his job.

"I am not a millionaire. I drive a 2010 Mazda S3. My previous car was a 2003 Ford Torris. 95 per cent of the actors in SAG are not millionaires," he explained in one viral video.

"Your favourite actor may not even get affected by this deal, whatever it is. They'll continue to get paid thousands of dollars. As a battler and someone who has a side job, I'm just asking to be paid more for making your favourite TV shows. If you see me on TV, I shouldn't have to have two side jobs just to survive."

So it is clear that the ones who need this most are also currently the ones on the picket lines, and tearing up the TikTok algorithm, educating entertainment consumers (that's all of us!) about the inequities in the system that they know better than anyone else.

And herein lies the lose-lose for ones who aren't, as Cook put it, 'battlers'. Show up and shine a light, or show up and eclipse the spotlight? It appears that most of the biggest and brightest are not even willing to take the risk.

Perhaps the biggest 'winner' so far is Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, who cracked the code in the best possible way: with a big ol' paycheck.

The SAG Foundation sent out a letter 2700 of the highest earning actors, and Johnson replied with a seven-figure donation. The Foundation helps actors who may be struggling to pay their bills during the course of the strike.

"It's the largest single donation that we've ever received from one individual at one time," Foundation director Cyd Wilson told Variety. "And what is amazing is that that one cheque is going to help thousands of actors keep food on their table, and keep their kids safe, and keep their cars running. And it's not lost on me that he's very humble about this, but it is a way to get us started."

And just like, The Rock became a strike hero.

Hopefully, many more with equally familiar faces — and deep pockets — will emerge in his wake.

Chelsea McLaughlin is Mamamia's Senior Entertainment Writer and co-host of The Spill. For more pop culture takes, recommendations and sarcasm, you can follow her on Instagram.

Feature image: Getty/Mamamia.