Three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep is asking Congress to revive the Equal Rights Amendment, which the states failed to ratify in the 1970s, the Associated Press reported. The famous actress on Tuesday sent letters to the nation's 535 lawmakers, which came attached with copies of "Equal Means Equal," a book by ERA Coalition President Jessica Neuwirth.

"I am writing to ask you to stand up for equality -- for your mother, your daughter, your sister, your wife or yourself -- by actively supporting the Equal Rights Amendment," Streep wrote. "A whole new generation of women and girls are talking about equality -- equal pay, equal protection from sexual assault, equal rights," "The Devil Wears Prada" star added.

The proposed constitutional amendment, which perscribes that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex," had been introduced in Congress as early as 1923.

It was passed by the 92nd Congress in 1972 and signed by President Richard Nixon, but failed to win approval from the needed three-fourths of states before the March 22, 1979, ratification deadline.

California Rep. Jackie Speier noted that she agreed with Streep's initiative and that women's rights ought to be enshrined in the Constitution.

"The time is ripe to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment," Rep. Speier argued. "Seventy percent of people polled think that we already have an ERA in the Constitution and they're shocked to find we don't have one."

During this year's Academy Award ceremony, Streep had been seen enthusiastically supporting Patricia Arquette's acceptance speech, which the "Boyhood" star had used to make a political statement.

"It's our time to have wage equality once and for all!" Arquette explained to a standing ovation from Streep and Jennifer Lopez, NJ Advance Media recalled.

With women accounting for fewer than one-third of characters in American-made movies, gender-equity issues have long been a priority for activists in the entertainment industry, the Christian Science Monitor noted.