Sarah Hyland Gives Rare Insight Into Surviving Abusive Relationship [Video]

Sarah Hyland is using her voice for an important and personal cause.

While accepting Variety‘s first ever Courage Award for her work in animal welfare and domestic abuse awareness, the Modern Family alum, 33, opened up about being a survivor of domestic violence and why it was important to open up about her experience.

“For thousands of years now, we didn’t talk about it,” she told Variety of enduring domestic violence. “The community hasn’t shared enough, I believe. And I feel that if we talk about it more, more women — and men and just human beings in general in abusive relationships — will feel more comfortable to be able to talk about it with their loved ones instead of letting their abuser isolate them from everyone, which is the first thing that they do, so that you don’t have that community.”

Hyland said that “talking about it” is “really important” to helping those …