America Ferrera reveals she was sexually abused aged nine in wake of Harvey Weinstein scandal

US actress America Ferrera has revealed she was sexually assaulted at the age of nine.

The Ugly Betty star, 33, opened up about the ordeal on Instagram in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

Ferrera used the ‘Me Too’ hashtag, a social media movement encouraging people to speak out about abuse, to “break the silence so the next generation of girls won’t have to live with this b*******”.

Recounting the incident, she told her 590,000 followers that she was forced to see the man she said abused her on a daily basis.

“First time I can remember being sexually assaulted I was 9 years old,” she wrote. “I told no one and lived with the shame and guilt thinking all along that I, a 9-year-old child, was somehow responsible for the actions of a grown man.

“I had to see this man on a daily basis for years to come. He would smile at me and wave, and I would hurry past him, my blood running cold, my guts carrying the burden of what only he and I knew – that he expected me to shut my mouth and smile back.”

Weinstein has been accused of sexual assault and harassment by over 40 women, including Rose McGowan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cara Delevingne, Kate Beckinsale and Lea Seydoux, but denies all allegations of non-consensual sex.

High profile names from George Clooney to Meryl Streep have also condemned his alleged actions.

Weinstein has been expelled as a member of the Academy, sacked from his own production company and had his BAFTA membership suspended.

He is being investigated by Scotland Yard as well as by police in the US.