Dynasty star Stephanie Beacham says she was raped in early 1970s and it 'screwed up' her life

'I can remember avoiding rape several times and a couple of times not'

This is the first time the 69-year-old Dynasty Star has spoken publicly about the occurrence which took place in the early seventies (AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

Stephanie Beacham has said she was raped in the early days of her career and the incident “screwed up” her life.

It is the first time the 69-year-old Dynasty Star has spoken publicly about the incident, which she says took place in the early seventies.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, she said the perpetrator was not a fellow actor, but chose not to name him.

When asked whether remaining silent about the ordeal caused long-term trauma, Beacham replied, “Yeah, absolutely. I didn’t know that that’s what was causing it at the time. But absolutely.”

“It caused me to break off a long-term relationship that probably should have been my marriage, because I couldn’t admit to it, I felt it was my fault. No, it screwed up my life, definitely.”

She did not mention the inicident in her 2011 autobiography Many Lives.

The actress, who starred in the Marlon Brando film The Nightcomers in 1971 and the Dynasty spin-off The Colbys in the 1980s, also spoke candidly about victim-blaming.

“Isn’t it interesting how the victim thinks that it’s their fault? I’m old enough to think that maybe, sometimes, it is”.

Beacham said she managed to avoid rape on a number of other occasions.

“I had a £5 note sewn into the lining of my coat and that was my getaway money. I can remember avoiding rape several times and a couple of times not.”

More recently, Beacham has appeared in several episodes of Coronation Street, Strictly Come Dancing and the BBC sitcom Bloomers with Alison Steadman.