Harvey Weinstein Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep is one of the leading actresses said to be wearing black in protest of sexual assault Getty Images

Many major actresses — such as nominees Jessica Chastain, Meryl Streep, and Emma Stone — are expected to dress entirely in black according to Entertainment Weekly.

The move is said to be a deliberate decision to show solidarity and protest the harassment in Hollywood, much of which has only come to light recently.

Sources said it would start at the Golden Globes on 7 January 2018, though it might extend throughout award season.

"All female actresses attending the Globes are protesting by just wearing black gowns," a source told People.

Once a powerful figure in the movie industry, Harvey Weinstein is perhaps the most spoken about figure in the recent sexual assault allegations that have been made. Actresses who have spoken up against him include Lupita Nyong'o, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Julia Roberts as well as Salma Hayek, who just this week wrote an op-ed in the New York Times calling Weinstein "a monster".

Although he arguably triggered the movement of sexual assault being spoken about in Hollywood, Weinstein is not the only figure with allegations. Since his came to light, Kevin Spacey, filmmaker Brett Ratner, comedian Louis CK, music producer Russell Simmons, actor Geoffrey Rush, director James Toback and actor Jeffrey Tambor have all been occused.

Many of the Golden Globes female nominees have been extremely vocal about the problematic environment for women within Hollywood, including Jessica Chastain.

She took to Twitter in support of peers like Ashley Judd, Rose McGowan, and Asia Argento, who had spoken out about Weinstein and said:

Following this however, she shared on The Graham Norton Show that she was told by a high profile male actor to "calm down".

She said: "I was tweeting a lot at that time and actually got an email from a well-known actor that said, 'Calm down,'"

"I found that heartbreaking and can only think he didn't understand the movement that was happening."

In subsequent interviews she has vowed to speak her mind and never be silenced.