Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro want the Screen Actors Guild to negotiate with studios over a contract which ends on 30 June.

Their call comes as US writers begin to return to work after they voted to end a three-month strike.

Networks have started to announce the return of shows halted by the strike.

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), representing 120,000 actors, has yet to begin talks over a new contract.

On Wednesday, SAG national executive director Doug Allen said the union would open negotiations "at a time that will most benefit our members".

Last week, Clooney warned SAG leaders their negotiating power would diminish because of "a lot of strike fatigue" if they waited before beginning talks with producers.

The actors' union offered strong support to the Writers Guild of America in its strike.