Sarah Hyland is turning her pain into purpose.
The Modern Family alum spoke out about the importance of advocating for domestic violence survivors after experiencing what she called her own abusive relationship. Explaining how painful memories can stay “in that abused place of your soul,” Sarah said she hopes to help others know they’re not alone by sharing her personal story.
“It’s almost like you don’t wanna talk about it anymore,” Sarah told Variety in an interview published Oct. 24. “You want it to be done, and that’s that. I completely understand the dissociation pattern of it.”
In fact, the 33-year-old feels “very much guilty” of doing the same thing “until something happens where I’m triggered,” she said, “and I didn’t realize that part of myself had been healed.”
“I don’t know if that part [of] any woman will ever be fully healed from that,” Sarah—who has been happily married to Bachelor Nation’s Wells Adams since 2022—continued. “It’s something that kind of scars her soul a little bit.”
That’s why Sarah—who was honored at Variety's 2024 Power of Women event with the Courage Award presented by Purina—believes by advocating for survivors, it’s “more so putting love towards that scar instead of hating it and ignoring it.”
“For thousands of years now, we didn’t talk about it,” she added. “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.”
The actress obtained a restraining order against ex Matt Prokop in 2014, her attorney confirmed to E! News at the time. In court documents previously obtained by E! News, Sarah accused Matt of physically and verbally abusing her during their relationship, crediting her TV mom Julie Bowen for eventually helping her leave the situation.
E! News reached out to Prokop's reps at the time for comment but did not hear back.
Now, Julie is praising Sarah for her courage to help others in need.
“Without adversity, there can be no way to define one’s character and sense of self,” Julie told Variety. “Sarah’s path has forced her, from a very early age, to take on challenges—both physical and emotional. She has met each moment with determination, grace, and vulnerability.”