“I am so sad that we have to sit here in front of a row of politicians,” Philipps continued. “Because the ‘why’ doesn’t matter. It should not matter. I am a human being that deserves autonomy in this country that calls itself free. And choices that a human being makes about their own bodies should not be legislated by strangers who can’t possibly know or understand each individual’s circumstances or beliefs.”

She added: “If I were that 15 year old girl in Arizona today, legally I would have to get parental consent. I would be forced to undergo a medically unnecessary ultrasound, to go to a state-mandated in-person counselling, designed solely to shame me into changing my mind, then take a state-mandated 24-hour time out to make sure I really knew what I wanted. It was not a decision I made lightly. But I have never for a moment doubted that it was the right decision for me. But so much has changed - in Arizona and other states - since then.

“And finally, I would be forced to give the state a reason why. Well, here is mine: my body belongs to me, not the state. Women and their doctors are in the best position to make informed decisions about what is best for them. No one else.”

Busy Philipps superbly sums up why it isn’t brave to share our abortion stories