Actor Milla Jovovich speaks for first time about having 'horrific' emergency abortion

‘I cannot remain silent when so much is at stake’

Milla Jovovich has opened up about an emergency abortion she had two years ago, describing it as one of the “most horrific experiences” she has ever gone through.

The Dazed and Confused star said that while she never planned on speaking about the procedure, she “cannot remain silent when so much is at stake,” referencing the spate of restrictive abortion laws that are being legislated in conservative US states, such as Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, and most recently, Georgia and Alabama.

Earlier this month, Georgia governor Brian Kemp signed the state’s controversial “heartbeat” abortion ban into law, giving the southern state one of the most restrictive laws in the United States that could send women to jail for life if they terminate their pregnancies after six weeks.

A similar bill was passed on Tuesday in Alabama that, if approved by Republican governor Kay Ivey, would outlaw nearly all abortions in the state, even in instances of rape and/or incest.

Writing in an Instagram caption underneath a close-up selfie, Jovovich urged women to “fight to make sure our rights are preserved”.

Jovovich revealed that she was four-and-a-half months pregnant when she had an abortion and was shooting on location in eastern Europe at the time.

“I went into pre-term labour and told that I had to be awake for the whole procedure. It was one of the most horrific experiences I have ever gone through,” she recalls.

“I still have nightmares about it. I was alone and helpless.”

Jovovich, who has two children with husband, film writer and director Paul WS Anderson, said that the abortion prompted “one of the worst depressions of [her] life”. She took time off work to recover, during which time she began gardening and exercising to avoid having to take anti-depressants.

“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,” she added, “abortion is a nightmare at its best.”

Jovovich also referenced Kemp’s “draconian bill” that makes Georgia the sixth state to pass a ban on abortions after six weeks, which she points out is before most women even realise they’re pregnant.

“Our rights as women to obtain safe abortions by experienced doctors are again at stake,” the 43-year-old actor continued.

“These laws haven’t been passed yet, but lawmakers in these states are trying. Abortion is hard enough for women on an emotional level without having to go through it in potentially unsafe and unsanitary conditions.”

Jovovich’s post has been liked more than 131,000 times and garnered a wave of supportive comments from fans and pro-choice campaigners.

Her revelation comes after actor Jameela Jamil described an abortion she had when she was younger as the “best decision” she ever made as she criticised Georgia’s abortion ban.

On Monday, the Good Place actor shared a thread of posts on Twitter regarding the foetal heartbeat law, calling it “inhumane” and “blatantly demonstrative of a hatred of women”.