. >> reporter: on february 1st of last year, wood publicly named her alleged abuser as brian warner,rilyn manson, who she says she met when she was 18 and dated on and off for more than four years. what is this feeling? and it's this feeling of being believed. >> reporter: the new hbo documentary "phoenix rising" details her journey to naming him. >> he responded after you named him publicly, saying horrible distortions of reality, saying that his intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual with like-minded partners. what did you think of his response? >> from what i can tell, he's alluding to the fact that maybe this was just kinky sex. brian and i did not have a bdsm relationship. well did not have kinky sex. this is not a sexual preference. this is not. that's not what we're talking about here. >> the heavy metalist is known for his shock rock and often controversial persona. would you say it's a fair assessment to say he kind of came as advertised? >> no. i mean i don't think the world would have put him on such a pedestal if they really thought that his act was r

said she knew it would be a big problem when she decided to publicly name her alleged abuser as brian warnerg him of abuse. now for the first time, wood is sitting down opening up about what she says happened to her. >> so many survivors live in fear of judgment and retaliation and mainly live with shame. and i know because i experienced it, and it was time to stop being silent. >> reporter: she's known for hit films like "13." >> let me see that. >> no, mom! >> reporter: and shows like "west world." >> is this really what you want? >> they never gave us a chance before. >> reporter: in 2018, evan rachel wood took on a new role, as an activist for domestic violence and sexual assault victims, testifying twice before lawmakers about what she says was her own personal experience with abuse. >> he broke me down through means of starvation, sleep deprivation, and threats against my life. >> reporter: at the time you did not name the person who you said who had abused you. why? >> i was too scared. it was made very clear to me there would be retaliation and to expose a person in power who is as h