Eliza Dushku "hadn't known" about Charisma Carpenter's experiences on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'.
Eliza Dushku
The 40-year-old star has offered her support to her friend and co-star after the actress accused show creator Joss Whedon of creating a "toxic" atmosphere on set and "abusing his power" on the programme earlier this week.
Eliza wrote in a statement on Instagram: "CC, my heart aches for you and I'm so sorry you have held this for so long. Your post was powerful, painful, and painted a picture we'll collectively never un-see or un-know. Thank you. I hadn't known it and I won't forget it.
"I frequently think of the saying, 'we are as sick as our secrets,'" Dushku continued. "Our secrets indeed make and keep us sick. What I'm learning more and more — and have personally found most valuable — is that profound healing can only come from naming and disclosing what actually happened, the necessary first step (once someone's ready) to freeing ourselves from our secrets, untold truths which have kept us isolated, ashamed, and held hostage.(sic)"
Eliza thinks it is important for people to speak out in order to bring down "abusive systems".
She continued: "Neglecting to 'name' the "power/gender/sexual/racial abuse epidemic in the entertainment industry (and for that matter society in general) enables the abusers and only emboldens and ultimately fortifies abusive systems.
"May you and countless others feel the solidarity and connection you have likely missed for too long. From courage, come change and hope. It starts and will end because of courageous truth-tellers like you. I admire, respect, and love you."
Meanwhile, veteran actor Anthony Head has admitted he was "gutted" to have been unaware of Charisma's experience on the show and admitted he's been kept awake worrying about the fact he had no idea.
He said: "I have been up most of the night just running through my memories thinking, 'What did I miss?'
"This is not a man saying, 'I didn't see it so it didn't happen.'
"I am gutted. I'm seriously gutted because one of my memories — my fondest memory — was the fact that it was so empowering. Not just with the words in the script, but the family feel of the show.
"I am really sad that if people went through these experiences."
Charisma - who played Cordelia Chase in the supernatural drama series - has accused Whedon of making "ongoing, passive-aggressive threats" to fire her and causing tension by "playing favourites" on set.
She wrote on Instagram: "He has created hostile and toxic work environments since his early career. I know because I experienced it first-hand. Repeatedly.
"Like his ongoing, passive-aggressive threats to fire me, which wreaks havoc on a young actor's self-esteem. And callously calling me "fat" to colleagues when I was four months pregnant, weighing 126lbs. He was mean and biting, disparaging about others openly, and often played favorites, pitting people against one another to compete and vie for his attention and approval. (sic)"
The 56-year-old producer has yet to respond.