Glenn Close
Glenn lived amongst MRA for 15 years (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Somerset House)

Glenn Close has opened up on spending 15 years in a cult with her family.

The legendary actress has had a glittering Hollywood career so far, starring in films including Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, 101 Dalmations and Guardians Of The Galaxy.

But when she was seven years old, she ended up as part of the controversial spiritual movement Moral Re-Armament (MRA) after her parents William and Bettine entered the cult-like group.

MRA, founded by Rev Frank Buchman, an evangelical fundamentalist from Pennsylvania, in 1938, revolved around the idea that changing the world begins with change in the individual.

Glenn, now 71, and her sibling were sent to live in the groups headquarters in Switzerland.

Glenn Close at Dangerous Liaisons premiere
The star escaped when she began to study acting in college (Picture: Ron Galella/WireImage)

The Oscar-nominated actress told the Daily Mail: It was a cult-like group where everybody is supposed to say the same things and act in the same way, and my parents were in it from when I was seven to when I was 22.

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It was devastating to a child because it meant that at a time when youre trying to figure out who you are, youre being told instead who youre supposed to be.

You basically werent allowed to do anything, or you were made to feel guilty about any unnatural desire.

Glenn added: It was very difficult because by the time I was able to break away from it, I didnt trust any my instincts because I thought they had all been dictated to me instead of being my own.

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While in MRA, Glenn travelled with the MRA singing group Up With People, in which she met her first two husbands (she has been married and divorced four times).

She managed to leave MRA aged 22, when she went to study acting at the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Glenn has been open about needing therapy after her time in MRA, while her sister Jessie grew up with mental health issues.

The star is currently promoting the drama The Wife, which she stars in alongside Jonathan Pryce and Christian Slater. Glenn is tipped to receive her seventh Oscar nod for the role – she holds the record for the most Oscar nominations without a win for any living actor.

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