SHORT TAKES : Hershey Joins Streep Supporters

Add Barbara Hershey’s voice to the growing chorus of actresses who support Meryl Streep’s attack on sex discrimination in the movie business.

Streep launched the campaign in August when she addressed the first women’s conference sponsored by the Screen Actors Guild. She assailed movie moguls who produce a preponderance of male-oriented films and pay actresses far less than actors.

“Meryl has come out with a lot of frightening statistics, such as 23% of womens’ roles vs. 79% for men,” Hershey said. “When (women) hit 40, it’s 6%. Those are pretty scary--unhealthy--statistics. Certainly unfriendly.”

Hershey said she doesn’t work as much as she would like. “It’s the quality. There are just so few quality pieces to work on. And you have to be lucky to get one.”