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Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovichrevealed Tuesday that she had an “emergency” abortion at four and a half months pregnant. The actress shared her story tosupport the fight for abortion rights, afterGeorgia passed a law that bans abortionsafter six weeks of pregnancy.

Jovovich, who has two children, Ever, 11, and Dashiel, 4, with her husband, director Paul W. S. Anderson, was halfway through her pregnancy two years ago and shooting a movie in Eastern Europe when she needed an abortion for medical reasons.

“I went into pre term labor and told that I had to be awake for the whole procedure,” the 43-year-old actress wrote on Instagram on Tuesday morning. “It was one of the most horrific experiences I have ever gone through. I still have nightmares about it. I was alone and helpless. When I think about the fact that women might have to face abortions in even worse conditions than I did because of new laws, my stomach turns.”

TheHellboystar said the experience had a severe impact on her mental health.

“I spiraled into one of the worst depressions of my life and had to work extremely hard to find my way out,” she said. “I took time off of my career. I isolated myself for months and had to keep a strong face for my two amazing kids. I started gardening, eating healthier and going to the gym every day because I didn’t want to jump into taking antidepressants unless I had tried every other alternative. Thank God I was able to find my way out of that personal hell without turning to medication, but the memory of what I went through and what I lost will be with me till the day I die.”

Mila Jovovich and with her daughter Ever family.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Milla Jovovich

Jovovich saidAmericans have a right to safe abortions.

“Abortion is a nightmare at its best. No woman wants to go through that. But we have to fight to make sure our rights are preserved to obtain a safe one if we need to,” she said. “I never wanted to speak about this experience. But I cannot remain silent when so much is at stake. #prochoice #prochoicegeneration.”

Jovovich said that the law passed in Georgia on May 7inspired her to make her voice heard.

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Hours after Jovovich shared her story,Alabama lawmakers voted in favor of an even stricter bill that would effectively ban all abortions in the state. The law — which now just needs a signature from the state’s Republican governor to go into effect — outlaws abortions at all stages of pregnancy, including those that are the product of rape and incest, with some exceptions for when the mother’s life is at risk. Doctors who perform abortions would be charged with felonies and could face up to 99 years in prison.

Eric Johnston, the founder of the Alabama Pro-Life Coalition who drafted the bill, said he considered a 6-week ban on abortions similar to what Georgia and several other states have planned, but did not think they went far enough.

“Why not go all the way?” he said,theNew York Timesreported.

source: people.com