Elijah Wood has opened up about life as a child actor in the Hollywood hills.
The 35-year-old star, who himself was thrust into the spotlight as a seven year old with roles in films and music videos, told the Sunday Times “something major” was going on in Hollywood – likening it to the UK’s Savile child abuse scandal.
Speaking about his experience as a child actor, Elijah said he had been protected, but that other child stars were regularly “preyed upon” by Hollywood figures at parties.
“Clearly something major was going on in Hollywood,” Wood told the paper.
“It was all organised.
“There are a lot of vipers in this industry, people who only have their own interests in mind.
“There is a darkness in the underbelly – if you can imagine it, it’s probably happened.”
Elijah went onto explain that these abuses continue because the victims cannot speak as loudly as the people in power.
“That’s the tragedy of attempting to reveal what is happening to innocent people,” he said.
“They can be squashed but their lives have been irreparably damaged.”
And according to Anne Henry, who works with support group Bizparents, Hollywood is currently sheltering around 100 active child abusers.
Elijah said he was saved from a more tragic fate because his mum wouldn’t let him attend Hollywood parties. But he said he’s very aware of what went on, adding: “People with parasitic interests will see you as their prey.”
In 2013, Britain was rocked by the publishing of a report that revealed beloved children’s entertainer, Jimmy Savile, had abused hundreds of kids over four decades – using his influence and celebrity to abuse vulnerable underage individuals.