Los Angeles: Hollywood veteran Meryl Streep has been on the front line of efforts to promote gender equality but the actress said she faced tough road as Congress ignored her plea to revive an Equal Rights Amendment.
Speaking at a panel at the Telluride Film Festival following a screening of her new film "Suffragette", the 66-year-old actress revealed that she had sent letters personally to every member of Congress on the issue of women's rights. Unfortunately, she almost got no replies, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"I sent them each a book called 'Equal Means Equal' by Jessica Neuwirth. It's about the revival of the attempt to get an ERA that would codify in law that you can't discriminate against women. I got five answers," Streep said.
Later on, "The Devil Wears Prada" star recalled her experience as a child when her mother who worked as a commercial artist had to ask her husband for cash. "I remember those conversations, hearing them upstairs, the back and forth... I remember thinking, 'I will never have to ask anybody for money. I will have my own money,' " she said, followed by applause from audience.
The actress stressed the importance of passing the ERA, "It needs to be set down in law... For the rest of the world, it's important that this is set down in law."
On a final note, she wanted to invite Pope Francis, who has shown impressive work on behalf of the poor and urging action on global warming, to join her to promote gender equality.
"He must address issues of inequality. The conversation changes when women are at the table."
