Marlee Matlin paints William Hurt as abusive drunk in new book

In 1987 at the tender age of just 21, Marlee Matlin became the first deaf Actress in history to win an Academy Award. Receiving the Oscar for her flawless performance in “Children of a Lesser God,” before an audience comprised of most of this planet’s humanity should have been an indelible joy. But Marlee’s smile hid a secret. She and her male lead, William Hurt, were more than co-stars, they were lovers. And the perhaps appropriately named ‘Hurt’ was also abusive.

In her new book, “I’ll Scream Later,” Marlee recounts stories of a passionate affair that lasted two years, during which time she was either scared of being hit, or already in pain. “I was always afraid of him,” Matlin told Access Hollywood. “But I loved him. Or I thought I did. But I was 19, he was 35.”

The troubled pair met at the movie’s audition, and the chemistry was instant and hard to resist. “We had an affair that night,” Matlin recalls. “We lived together, and he’s one of the most complex persons I’ve ever dealt with.” Their passionate bond grew deeper with time, but Marlee maintains there was also great risk; “I had fresh bruises everyday,” she explained to the Access reporter. “And if I had a split lip?…..Well, there were a lot of things that were not pleasant.”

In her book, Marlee recalls one particular fight in which she says Hurt threw her on the bed and tore off her clothes, leaving her sobbing and begging for him to relent. Asked if she ever considered pressing charges, the actress admitted her own inner demons; “No, I was too wrapped up in his world and my drugs. I was 19 and alone in New York City. I had no friends but my dealer,” she sadly explained. The book details her own epic struggle with pot and cocaine, and Hurt’s battle with alcoholism, which he later defeated with help from Alcoholics Anonymous.

After two years the passion burned out, and they went their separate ways. Now a lot safer and free from her bruises Marlee has not seen Mr. Hurt for three years. “I understand how women are afraid to leave an abusive relationship,” she says. “They should leave, but I understand how they don’t know how.” Asked if she had warned Mr. Hurt their story was appearing in print, Marlee almost visibly shuddered. “I did not. I had no contact with him. I had nothing to say to him. He knows what happened,” the actress replied.

Hurt, 59, who is divorced and has four children from three different women has not responded. He currently stars on the popular FX series “Damages” with Glenn Close.

Update: In a statement to E! News on Tuesday, Hurt said that both he and Matlin had moved on.

“My own recollection is that we both apologized and both did a great deal to heal our lives. Of course, I did and do apologize for any pain I caused. And I know we have both grown. I wish Marlee and her family nothing but good.”