LOS ANGELES:

Hollywood actors will boycott this month’s Golden Globe Awards as a support for striking writers, the actors union said on January 4, dealing a blow to the glittering red carpet extravaganza.

Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg said in a statement there was “unanimous agreement” among actors not to cross picket lines set up by writers locked in a bitter dispute with film and television producers.

Rosenberg said the boycott would cover all nominees up for acting awards in the January 13 event, the second most important awards show in Hollywood after the Oscars. It would also cover stars acting as presenters.

The decision means that nominated A-listers such as Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks and George Clooney are all likely to steer clear of the Globes, greatly diminishing one of the highlights of Hollywood’s awards season. Hollywood screenwriters have been on strike since November 5 after the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to agree ter-ms for a new contract that expired in October. — AFP