Speaking to Cosmopolitan, the 43-year-old activist revealed that although she had never met Streep before, when she checked her voicemail, she heard her ‘soft voice’, familiar from so many of her favorite films, asking if she would like to attend the Golden Globes.
‘And so I found myself on Sunday night, wearing a black floor-length gown, having been immaculately made up by Meryl’s hair and make-up artist, stepping onto a red carpet lined by more cameras and flashing lights than I had ever seen,’ Poo wrote.
Plus-one: Ai-Jen Poo, the executive director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance has revealed what it was like to attend the Golden Globes as Meryl Streep’s date
First timers: Ai-jen revealed that she was contacted by the actress about attending the awards ceremony together, despite having never met her before
Explaining that she has spent the last 20 years advocating for domestic workers in the US and fighting against sexual harassment and assault of domestic workers, Poo detailed how her first meeting with Meryl, 68, was spent discussing how they could honor survivors.
‘When I walked into Meryl’s hotel room for our first meeting, the kettle was boiling,’ she recalled.
‘Over a cup of chamomile tea, we sat together and talked about how best to honor survivors and share the stories of domestic workers the following night.’
Clearly eager to ensure that her guest felt as confident as possible while walking her first major red carpet, the award-winning actress also invited her long-time hair and make-up artist, Roy Hellend to the meeting, to go over what Poo would need before the event.
But any nerves Poo might have had before walking the red carpet will no doubt have been calmed slightly by the knowledge that even Meryl, who has gone through the process dozens of times during her career, also needed a nerve-steadying shot of vodka before heading to the ceremony.
Statement: Several Hollywood stars including Michelle Williams, pictured here with #MeToo founder Tarana Burke invited activists to attend the Golden Globes their their plus-one
Sisterhood: Ai-jen, pictured here with several Hollywood stars and their activist plus-ones, described the event as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience
‘On the night of the awards, after taking a shot of vodka for courage, we stood shoulder-to-shoulder in front of countless cameras, shared our message with the media, and cheered others on who were doing the same,’ she said of the history-making moment.
As other guests had brought along other activists as their dates, Poo said they all gravitated to each other.
These included Tarana Burke, creator of the #MeToo movement, who came with Michelle Williams and Saru Jayaraman, co-founder of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, who arrived with Amy Poehler.
Big Little Lies star Laura Dern took Mónica Ramírez, co-founder of Alianza Nacional de Campesinas (the National Farmworker Women’s Alliance).
Speaking about the impact of wearing black as part of the #MeToo movement, in support of survivors of sexual harassment and assault, Poo shared that the sea of black dresses on the red carpet looked ‘spectacular’, and after the show she received dozens of texts from the women she has helped.
‘My once-in-a-lifetime experience at the Golden Globes is over, but something new is beginning,’ she concluded.
‘In Meryl’s words on the red carpet, “courage begets courage,” in a virtuous cycle.’