Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon today revealed she is campaigning for victims of domestic violence after seeing a friend suffer in an abusive relationship.

The 33-year-old Hollywood star made a speech at the House of Commons to raise awareness of the issue, which she described as a “pandemic”.

She is backing a joint campaign by the Avon Foundation and domestic violence charity Refuge to get more government funding for victim support in Britain.

An emotional Witherspoon, who played June Carter in Walk The Line, said she was spurred on to support the campaign by a friend’s experience.

Speaking as honorary chairwoman of the charity Avon Foundation, the actress said: “She was a young woman and felt intimidated and ashamed. There remains what can seem like an impenetrable wall of silence around violence and we must all play a role in breaking this silence.”

A poll published today found that 92 per cent of people think they do not know anyone suffering from domestic violence when one in four women will do so in their lifetime.

When asked what her message would be to a woman suffering domestic abuse, Witherspoon said: “You’re not alone and if you reach out there’s someone next door to you in your life who is ready to give you support.”

TV presenter Wendy Turner Webster, a victim of abuse during a five-year relationship, has also backed the campaign. She said: “The basic fact is that you have no mental resources available to you to get away. Quite simply, you have been reduced to nothing.”