The 39-year-old was reportedly confronted by a gang after failing to pay for cocaine, before she was kidnapped and held at a south London flat for three days.
The actress is said to have only opened up about the incident to those closest to her last month, having decided to reveal the details in her upcoming autobiography Faith, Hope and Clarity.
A source close to the star explained:
‘It was nothing short of hell on earth for Danniella. It was the lowest point of her life. She was distraught but had no way of paying the money.
‘Looking back, she can't believe she let something like that happen.’
And the mother-of-two has opened up about her ordeal for Reveal’s ‘Report Every Rape’ campaign.
‘I felt I was to blame. It was all my fault - that's what people would think,’ she admitted.
‘Now I look back and know that should not have happened to me. It was completely inhumane.’
‘It was already out in the papers that I was taking drugs, so I thought everyone would think, “Well, if you're taking drugs, you've asked for it”.
‘I got more heavily into drugs to block out the pain. I'd already alienated my friends and family, and because I felt so worthless I ended up with lowlife people who didn't treat me well. I was an object.’
Speaking about her decision to publicise the rape, the actress added:
‘Was I doing the right thing telling the world? The response was unbelievable. So many people said I'd helped them or a loved one. I realised this wasn't only a good thing for me, but for others as well.’
‘Whether this happened to you or was 10 years ago, don't feel trapped. Speak to someone, call Rape Crisis. There is so much help out there now,’she concluded.