Julianne Hough Reveals Childhood Abuse

Reporter: She's the bubbly, blonde, triple threat that america fell in love with on "dancing with the stars." ♪ and ryan seacrest's leading lady. Now, in shocking, new interviews with... See More

Reporter: She's the bubbly, blonde, triple threat that america fell in love with on "dancing with the stars." ♪ and ryan seacrest's leading lady. Now, in shocking, new interviews with "entertainment tonight" and "cosmo" magazine, actress julianne hough revealed how child abuse scarred her past. It sucked the life out of me. And the light about me was gone. Reporter: The world-class dancer tells the magazine, it all unraveled far from home, during her years at a prestigious british dance academy. While I was in london, I was abused, mentally, physically, everything, she said. I was 10 years old, looking like I was 28, being are a very sensual dancer. Hough alluded to it last year. In utah, you said you were encouraged to dance. But some of the outfits for mormon country was a little much. I have to say, 7 years old, dancing the way I was dancing, it was pretty sexy. Reporter: The star tells "cosmo" the abuse got worse when she got older. This is the first time she's been able to share this. And I think a lot of it had to do with the role that she's working on. Reporter: That role, a starring spot alongside josh duhamel in "safe haven." Hough plays a woman running from an abusive past. Reporter: The director had her improvise and talking about her own experiences in character. And she says it's one of the most therapeutic moments she Reporter: Now, the rising star says she hopes her story can motivate others.