Asia Argento delivered a jaw-dropping speech at the Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony on Saturday which silenced the audience.

As soon as she took to the stage, the actress said: 'I have a few words to say.

'In 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes. I was 21 years old. This festival was his hunting ground.

'I want to make a prediction. Harvey Weinstein will never be welcomed here ever again. He will live in disgrace, shunned by a film community that once embraced him and covered up for his crimes.'

Turning her wrath to others who she feels have still not yet been brought down, Argento almost spat with fury as she fumed: 'Even tonight, sitting among you, there are those who still have to be held accountable for their conduct against women.

Argento is pictured with Weinstein in 2004 in Cannes. She claims she was raped by him at the festival in 1997

'For behavior that does not belong in this industry, does not belong in any industry or workplace.

ARGENTO'S SPEECH I have a few words to say. In 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes. I was 21 years old. This festival was his hunting ground. I want to make a prediction. Harvey Weinstein will never be welcomed here ever again. 'He will live in disgrace, shunned by a film community that once embraced him and covered up for his crimes. And even tonight, sitting among you, there are those who still have to be held accountable for their conduct against women. For behavior that does not belong in this industry, does not belong in any industry or workplace. You know who you are. But, most importantly, we know who you are and we're not going to allow you to get away with it any longer. Advertisement

'You know who you are. but most importantly, we know who you are and we're not going to allow you to get away with it any longer.'

Afterwards, the audience exploded in applause and she was inundated with praise on social media.

The Italian actress was one of the first women to speak out against Weinstein in October last year.

She told in painstaking detail how he allegedly raped her and how they later had consensual sex.

Her accusations, and those of a handful of other women, triggered an onslaught of allegations of abuse against Weinstein, 65.

He has been in hiding ever since but denies all of their claims, insisting he never physically forced himself on any woman.

Argento was presenting the festival award for best actress when she gave her stunning rebuke.

Asia Argento tweeted afterwards that she had spoken for 'all' of the women speaking out against their alleged sexual abusers

Anthony Bourdain, Argento's CNN host boyfriend, tweeted his praise after her speech

Argento is pictured on the red carpet before she went inside for the closing ceremony

The actress was serious as she posed on the red carpet before entering the ceremony

The award went to Samal Yeslyamova for 'Ayka' (The Little One).

After her speech on Saturday, she went on Twitter to thank supporters for their well wishes and say that she gave the remarks on behalf of Weinstein's other accusers.

'I spoke for us all,' she wrote, tagging celebrities including Annabel Sciorra, Rose McGowan, Rosanna Arquette, and 'all the women whose shame will from now on be on our abusers.'

Among those to heap praise on her was her boyfriend, CNN's Anthony Bourdain.

He tweeted: 'Brava. An absolutely fearless off script nuclear bomb of a speech to a stunned crowd at Cannes.'