GEMMA Chan has revealed she was a victim of a sexual assault just 10 minutes from her home.
The British actress, who rose to fame on series Humans, opened up about her harrowing experience in a new interview.
Gemma is starring in a new film called Josephine, which follows an eight-year-old girl called Josephine and her family after she witnesses a rape in a park while out on a run with her dad.
Gemma plays Josephine’s mum and also serves as one of its producers alongside co-star Channing Tatum.
In an interview with The Sunday Times , Gemma, 43, revealed the film is personal to her because: “I am a sexual assault survivor myself.”
She continued: “It’s not something I talk about a lot, but unfortunately it’s very common — something like one in four women, one in eighteen men.
“And it’s so underreported that the statistics are much lower than the reality. It’s an epidemic.”
Gemma then went on to recall what happened to her on a night out while at Oxford University, where she studied law.
She tearfully told the publication: “I was walking home at night, and was followed after separating from my friends.
“I had only a little bit to go until I was home, less than ten minutes.”
Gemma was attacked by the stranger, and while she reported it, “he was never found”.
Gemma hopes her new film will start a conversation around rape and sexual assault.
She said: “Of course it’s not all men. But we really need good men to be speaking up, and speaking to their brothers, sons, friends. It has to change.”
Josephine is in cinemas from November 20.
