LOS ANGELES: Amandla Stenberg, the American actress who played beloved character Rue in the first Hunger Games film, said she is bisexual in a heartfelt video.

The 17-year-old actress opened up about her sexuality while taking over Teen Vogue’s Snapchat account, telling fans about how difficult it has been to keep a part of herself hidden, reported Us magazine.

“It’s a really, really hard thing to be silenced and it’s deeply bruising to fight against your identity and to mould yourself into shapes that you just shouldn’t in,” she said in the video, which she also posted to her Tumblr.

“As someone who identifies as a black, bisexual woman, I have been through it and it hurts and it’s awkward and it’s uncomfortable.”

Stenberg also thanked a few of her Hollywood friends for being supportive in her journey toward coming out.

“I realised because of Solange (Knowles) and Ava DuVernay and Willow (Smith) and all the black girls watching this right now that there’s absolutely nothing to change,” she continued.

“We cannot be suppressed. We are meant to express our joy and our love and our tears and be big and bold and definitely not easy to swallow.”