CHRISTINA RICCI - RICCI STUNNED BY POLITICAL INFLUENCE

RICCI STUNNED BY POLITICAL INFLUENCE

Actress CHRISTINA RICCI was stunned when she spoke to U.S. politicians as an activist for rape victims - because she never expected her celebrity status would get them to listen.
The 28-year-old became an activist for Tori Amos-founded organisation RAINN (The Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) after the sexually-charged marketing campaign for her film Black Snake Moan launched in 2006.
But Ricci admits she was reluctant to speak up, fearing she would just embarrass herself.
She says, "When I was invited to speak to members of Congress I was like, 'Uh, are you sure? I might say something stupid.'
"To me, Washington D.C. always seemed like a place you could never get into. But it's surprisingly accessible. You can actually talk to the people who govern and write legislation - and they responded."
And Ricci has continued her fight, urging celebrities and civilians to make more of an effort by donating more than their cash.
She adds, "In the beginning a lot of my support was just financial - I think it's important that a certain percentage of everything you make goes to charity, any charity. But you should also give your time - you can pick your corner of the world and give it your time."