Reese leads Tinseltown’s women in black
Few could remember the names of the films and television shows nominated for Golden Globe Awards last night.
Instead all Hollywood’s best and brightest were speaking about were hashtags like #MeToo and #TimesUp and wearing black.
British actress Andrea Riseborough began the activism early, wearing a black T- shirt emblazoned with the slogan #TimesUp at the annual w Magazine It Girls luncheon in Beverly Hills.
And the star said she was planning to wear a similar-coloured outfit at the awards last night.
Miss Riseborough is one of many backing the movement to wear black at the ceremony, in solidarity with victims of sexual harassment and assault in the wake of the Hollywood scandal, which began with allegations against Harvey weinstein. Others include Nicole Kidman and emma watson.
The 36- year- old, who recently appeared in dark comedy The Death Of Stalin, said that the campaign was the ‘ beginning of something exciting and we’re not going to let the door close’. She added that the initiatives that have spread through the entertainment industry since the allegations levelled at weinstein ‘would not be a five-minute wonder’ that would end when the film award season ends.
She said: ‘It’s very difficult because you’re trying to do your job and you don’t always have the courage at the time to communicate it or the tools to deal with whatever the harassment is.’
And she is sure that the #TimesUp movement, an organisation funded by stars including Reese witherspoon and Meryl Streep, will help women who haven’t felt strong enough to come forward on their own.
‘women have always been stronger together,’ she said.
Last night Miss witherspoon encouraged viewers at home to join in with the activism on the red carpet. writing on multiple social media platforms, the Legally Blonde star wrote: ‘TODAY is a Big Day!! JOIN US! #TIMeSUP on abuse, harassment, and the imbalance of power. Not just in Hollywood, but every industry!
‘we stand together. Today, join us: wear Black! Post pictures! Tag us!’
She also posted a video, in which she was joined by fellow actresses including Brie Larson, Kerry washington and Diana Ross’s daughter Tracee ellis Ross, who announced that their campaign has already raised £11million.
However, if you happen to live in Los Angeles, you might have trouble acquiring the perfect little black dress to wear along with the stars. The area had sold out of black outfits in the run-up to the ceremony, which began at 1am UK time.
Top designers including Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Armani resorted to dyeing or remaking colourful garments to match their clients’ wishes.
New York designer Naeem Khan told The Mail on Sunday he had to remake a gold dress for Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks in black, ‘which was a big challenge because everything is done by hand’.
The move to don black outfits also applied to male guests, who were encouraged to change their white dress shirts to black.