DAVID SCHWIMMER - SCHWIMMER SLAMS STAGGERING FRIENDS SALARIES

DAVID SCHWIMMER is still shocked by the staggering salaries he and his co-stars earned for starring in hit US TV sitcom FRIENDS.

But the actor insists his $1 million (GBP550,000)-per-episode wage was nothing compared to the income generated by the show's producers.

The 38-year-old actor, who is preparing to take London's West End by storm in NEIL LaBUTE play SOME GIRLS when it opens on Thursday (12MAY05), remains embarrassed by the negative press his salary received.

But Schwimmer was determined to take his fair share of Friends' profits so he could put the money to good use.

He says, "That was what I called silly money. No one deserves a million dollars a week for anything. Oh God no! I mean, no way!

"But you've got to look at the bigger picture. You realise that if they could afford to pay each actor a million dollars a week, they must be making 10 times that themselves.

"And you can be damn sure the production company was not going to give it away to charity."