Chances are you know Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' or as Professor Charles Xavier in the 'X-Men' film series.

But Stewart is also a long time advocate against violence against women.

Last weekend, during a Q&A at 2013 Comicpalooza in Texas, a young woman asked Stewart about his work to stop domestic violence - as she had been abused.

Stewart gave a passionate response, emphasizing that men have the power to stop violence against women.

He also talked about his work with two organizations in Britain: one being 'Refuge', an organization that provides shelter for abused women and their children; the other 'Combat Stress' which treats former soldiers suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental illnesses.

Stewart, 72, says he got involved with both because of his own childhood experience, watching his father abuse his mother.

"I do what I do in my mother's name because I couldn't help her then. Now I can," he told the crowd.

Check out the video - it's definitely worth a look.

Stewart also revealed that last year he and his brother found out that his father, a World War II veteran, suffered from PTSD but was never treated for it.

"In 1940, soldiers were told they were suffering from shellshock and were told to 'pull themselves together, get out there and be a man,'" he said. "Now we know what it is and we know how to deal with is."

"I work for refuge for my mother and work for combat stress for my father in equal measure," he added.

Stewart then asked the woman, "My dear are you okay?" She talked about being abused and "the shaming of women" that many victims experience.

Stewart said that as a child, he remembers doctors and paramedics telling his mother that she must have "done something to provoke him [Stewart's father]."

"Wrong, wrong, my mother did nothing to provoke that," said Stewart. "And even if she had, violence is never, ever a choice that man should make. Ever."

The young woman, named Heather, then got a hug from Stewart.

"When he embraced me he told me, 'You never have to go through that again, you're safe now.'" Heather wrote on YouTube. "I just kept thanking him."

"I hope everyone who needs help in abusive or violent situations has the courage to do so. There are people willing and ready to help you," she said.

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