Julianne Hough has revealed she was abused as a child

The `Rock of Ages` star - who is in long-term relationship with `American Idol` presenter Ryan Seacrest - claims she was "abused mentally, physically, everything" after moving to London from her native Utah to study dance as a youngster.

The 24-year-old actress told Cosmopolitan magazine: "I was 10-years-old looking like I was 28, being a very sensual dancer.

"I was a tormented little kid who had to put on this sexy facade because that was my job and my life. But my heart was the same, and I was this innocent little girl. I wanted so much love.
"While I was in London, I was abused mentally, physically, everything."

The former `Dancing With The Stars` performer admitted that things got much worse when she hit puberty.

She said: "When I started hitting puberty, when I started becoming a woman and stopped being a little girl.

"I was told if I ever went back to the United States, three things were going to happen.
"One: I was going to amount to nothing. Two: I was going to work at Whataburger. And three: I was going to end up a slut. So it was like, I can`t go back, I have to be this person."

Julianne, who managed to escape the abuse at the age of 15, said she felt she couldn`t tell her parents because she didn`t "want to be a burden" but doesn`t want people to pity her.
She said: "I didn`t talk unless I was spoken to. I would look over to see if it was okay if I answered. I was perfect - perfect to a fault.

"I don`t want pity. To me it`s more about being that voice for people who don`t necessarily have a voice. I`m a very forgiving person, and I don`t want to hurt anybody. What`s past is past."

sections: Celebrities