A blackout at the Bafta Award ceremony has been backed by a group of British actresses in a bid to show support for the anti-sexual harassment Time’s Up campaign.
Cited as being organised by a group of UK film and television industry leaders, the move is billed as standing side-to-side with those in the US who performed a similar gesture at the Golden Globes in January.
Sources confirmed a number of high-profile actresses from the UK were involved as a letter was published by Deadline magazine which is said to have been circulated among those attending the Baftas.
It is understood Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Emma Watson, Zawe Ashton, Daisy Ridley, Emilia Clarke and Jodie Whittaker are involved in the high-profile move.
The letter calls for stars to “continue the incredible movement this side of the Atlantic” and says wearing black is a “strong, unifying and simple statement” which supports people who have experienced sexual harassment and abuse or been held back due to an imbalance of power.
“We hope that those of us who are privileged enough to have a platform, can use it to raise awareness of the experiences of women beyond our industry, whose experiences are often silenced and marginalised,” the letter reads.
It promises some “exciting plans” and tells men there are plans for special pins or a buttonhole.
It also invited attendees to bring a women’s rights campaigner with them to the awards – another gesture performed by a number of stars at the Golden Globes.
Announcing the nominations in January, the chairwoman of the British film and television academy, Jane Lush, addressed recent harassment and assault revelations as she announced they were working on a set of principles aimed at stamping out “pernicious work practices that thrive in outdated power structures”.
Bafta have been contacted for comment.