Matlin Talks Drugs, Sexual Abuse And William Hurt In New Memoir

In Scream Later, the 43-year-old deaf star reveals for the first time how a 16-year-old babysitter molested her when she was just 11 years old.

She writes, "Afterwards I ran into the bathroom. I wanted to throw up. I was drowning in that crush of emotions - fear, shame, anger, betrayal - molestation victims everywhere feel. My parents never found out."

Matlin blames the incident for her future drug addictions, claiming she first turned to marijuana as a teen to escape the pain of her abuse.

That later escalated, and she became addicted to cocaine, spending time in the famed Betty Ford clinic in California.

The star met William Hurt on the set of their 1986 movie Children of a Lesser God, and they began an intense relationship that she alleges eventually became abusive: "So many things about Bill were wonderful. But he worried that I was so young I would lose interest in him. Our fights were made far worse by his drinking and my drug use."

Both stars were Oscar nominated for their roles in the movie, but when Matlin won and Hurt didn't, she claims their relationship soured: "(He asked me) 'What makes you think you deserve it (the Oscar)?'"

She adds of Hurt, "I respect him as an actor. But if I saw him walk in the door now, I would probably run to the bathroom. We have no contact whatsoever."

The expose also tells of Matlin's relationships with actors Richard Dean Anderson, Rob Lowe and TV writer David E. Kelley.