Skins' Kaya Scodelario breaks silence on 'horrific' childhood sexual assault

The Brit actress rose to fame in 2007 when she landed the role of Effy Stonem in teen drama Skins.

A breakout star of the hit show, Kaya has gone onto secure leading roles in blockbuster Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and The Maze Runner series.

However, the 25-year-old made headlines for another reason last year, when she revealed she had been sexually assaulted as a child.

In a post shared on her Kaya Scodelario Twitter, the TV starlet joined the #MeToo movement, designed to give victims of abuse and harassment a platform.

Addressing her 710k followers, the actress said: "It's taken me 13 years to say Me Too.

"He is still protected by 'family members' in Brazil. They've told lies to papers to try and silence me."

While Kaya didn't offer any further details at the time, she has now opened up about her decision to speak out.

The mum-of-one — who welcomed a baby boy with husband Benjamin Walker, 35, in 2016 — is proud to have taken such a big step.

"But I saw a woman I admired speaking up about it, it would have made me feel less guilty.

"It would have inspired me to think 'This won't hold me back, this is something that has happened, but I am not a victim.'"

Kaya is currently touring the world to promote the release of Maze Runner: The Death Cure, the third instalment of the dystopian film trilogy based on a best-selling book series.

The actress portrays the lead female role of Teresa, a character popular among fans of the films and books alike.

Support for those suffering from sexual abuse can be found through Rape Crisis' website or via their confidential helpline on 0808 802 9999