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Mira Sorvino has said she is "a survivor of date rape".
The Oscar-winning actor revealed the news at a New York news conference in an attempt to push through stronger sexual assault laws in the US state.
She stated that coming forward with her allegations about disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein had been traumatic, but now wanted to talk about her experience of being date raped to support others.
“I can stand here before you and say not only was I a sexual harassment and battery victim at the hands of Mr Weinstein, but I’m also a sexual assault victim and I’m also a survivor of date rape,” she said
She continued: “I am [telling you] here to try and help, because there are all these survivors out there right now who need justice, who need to feel that they can take the time they need to sort through the trauma, to sort through the shame. Because I can tell you in situations of second degree rape, which is what mine would constitute, you feel ashamed. You feel that somehow it was your fault.”
SorvIno was speaking with New York’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, where she announced her support of the push to drop the statute of limitations on rape allegations.
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2018 Italian actress Asia Argento (C) and US singer and actress Rose McGowan, who both accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, take part in a march organised by 'Non Una Di Meno' (Me too) movement as part of the International Women's Day in Rome
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2018 An activist participates in the 2018 #MeToo March in Hollywood
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2018 Women protest in New York
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2018 Activists and advocates for survivors of sexual abuse, including Democratic candidate for Illinois governor at the time JB Prtizker (left), gather in the Federal Building Plaza to protest the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in Chicago, Illinois after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted out Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh and agreed to an additional week of investigation into accusations of sexual assault against him before the full Senate votes on his confirmation. Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were both teens
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2017 Victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual abuse and their supporters protest during a #MeToo march in Hollywood
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2018 South Korean demonstrators hold banners during a rally to mark International Women's Day
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2018 Dozens of women and men attend a rally and march in Washington Square Park for international Women's Day in New York
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2017 People carry signs addressing the issue of sexual harassment at a #MeToo rally outside of Trump International Hotel in New York
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2017 Victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual abuse and their supporters protest during a #MeToo march in Hollywood
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2018 South Korean demonstrators hold banners during a rally to mark International Women's Day
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2018 Activists and advocates for survivors of sexual abuse gather in the Federal Building Plaza in Chicago
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2018 Dozens of women and men attend a rally and march in Washington Square Park
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#MeToo movement – In pictures 2017 People carry signs addressing the issue of sexual harassment at a #MeToo rally outside of Trump International Hotel
Getty
#MeToo movement – In pictures 2018 Activists and advocates for survivors of sexual abuse gather in the Federal Building Plaza to protest the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh
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In 2017, Sorvino became one of the first women to accuse Weinstein of sexual assault and of derailing her career throughout the years. Months later, Peter Jackson claimed that Weinstein told him not to cast Sorvino in The Lord of the Rings because she was “difficult”.
Sorvino won an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Linda Ash in Allen’s 1995 film Mighty Aphrodite.
Weinstein denies all allegations of non-consensual sex.
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