Evan Rachel Wood has given testimony to US Congress regarding sexual assault. The actress opened up about her own experiences during the powerful speech.  She claimed an ex-partner had raped her and that she was “mentally and physically tortured”, BBC News reports. Wood was giving evidence in support of the new Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act, described by the actress as a “safety net that may help save someone's life”. In an address to the House Judiciary Subcommittee, Wood explained that she had personally suffered “toxic mental, physical and sexual abuse”.

In a graphic part of testimony, the actress detailed “sick rituals” which involved being bound and beaten. She explained that the aftermath of abuse is “a huge part of the conversation that needs much more attention”. The bill that Wood supports will establish statutory rights for survivors of sexual abuse. The bill has already been passed at a federal level, but only nine states have applied it. The actress noted that her position as “an artist, survivor, mother and advocate” can be used to “bring a human voice to [...] 25 million survivors”.

Evan Rachel Wood is known for her roles in ‘Westworld’, ‘True Blood’, and ‘The Ides of March’.