SEX ASSAULT SURVIVORS REACHED OUT AFTER DRAMA LIAR, SAYS JOANNE

THE Victims’ Commissioner has called on the Government to seize a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to help domestic abuse survivors.

Dame Vera Baird said the Domestic Abuse Bill can protect victims and tackle perpetrators, and change the way the Family Court works.

She has written to Home Secretary Priti Patel to shape the Bill into a “landmark” piece of legislation and has put forward a series of amendments to be made to protect women and men from domestic abuse.

Dame Vera has urged for special measures to be put in place in the Family Court for domestic abuse survivors. She

ACTRESS Joanne Froggatt says her performance as a sexual assault victim encouraged real victims to approach her.

The actress, best known for playing Anna Bates in Downton Abbey, starred in ITV’s first series of Liar in 2017 as a teacher apparently raped during a date with a surgeon, played by Ioan Gruffudd, 46.

The allegations led to a “he said/she said” scenario which left viewers hooked.

Joanne, 39, said at least six people had confided in her about their own assaults and not being believed.

She said: “So yeah, when you’re filming… it’s quite a responsibility to know that things like this do happen to people and those people are possibly going to be watching what you do and you want it to be as believable as possible for their sake.”

Joanne, right, returns in the psychological thriller on ITV next Monday at 9pm.