Evan Rachel Wood got "beat up" at school because of her acting career.

The 'Ides of March' star began auditioning for movies and TV shows when she was just four years old and says her interest in the profession meant she was singled out by other kids who thought she was "stuck up."

The 24-year-old star said: "I used to get beat up in elementary school for the same reason. They would assume I was this spoilt little brat. In fifth grade, I would get held and spit on and people would throw basketballs at me and s**t. It sucked. I never even fought back.

"I would be like, 'Why? I've never done anything, I'm not bothering you."

Evan completed her education by being home schooled which she says was due to her working commitments and also the fact her teachers gave her a "hard time".

She added to the Guardian newspaper: "Teachers gave me more of a hard time than the kids did. They thought I was stuck up or, I don't know, they were bitter teachers that were like, 'This girl must think she's better than everyone else', but if anything it made me feel like more of an outcast. I just wanted to hide."