John Jarratt is an Australian acting legend, but in 2017 his reputation was shattered.

In November that year, the Wolf Creek star's agent called him with the news that a newspaper was running a story claiming he had raped a former housemate in 1976.

Watch the interview in the clip above

Two years later, the case went to trial and Jarratt was forced to fight to clear his name.

In July, a jury took just 15 minutes to find the actor "not guilty."

He's since returned to work, but the public scrutiny has taken its toll and he wants the legal system changed.

John Jarratt is best known for is best known for playing Mick Taylor in the Wolf Creek franchise. Credit: Supplied

In an interview with Kochie and Sam at Brekky Central, Jarratt looked back on the day he was told of the accusation.

"I was with my daughter having a coffee and my phone rang," he explained.

"She said that someone had accused me of raping them forty odd years ago, it would be on the front pages on Saturday and they wanted comment on whether you did it or not".

"I said no and hung up, because I couldn't talk anymore. I've been in the business since 1974, I knew what I was up against and what was going to happen. I knew I was going to be dragged through the ringer."

The actor said his wife Rosa 'got pretty angry' when he rang to tell her.

"I said 'this ludicrous allegation has been sent my way from the female - I can't mention her name now, even though she's the perpetrator - and she was just shattered."

The actor sat down with Kochie and Sam at Brekky Central for an emotional interview. Credit: Sunrise

Jarratt was found not guilty two years after the story broke, but says it has caused irreparable damage to his reputation and continuing emotional distress.

"The 20 months of being hung out to dry in the media is the killer," he claims.

"I spent two years of my life accused of being a rapist. It destroyed my career, my life and my family. We had to describe the word rape to my two-year-old granddaughter."

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The 67-year-old is now calling for the legal system to be changed, so the name of a person accused of a sexual offence is suppressed until they are convicted.

"I've been through hell, and I shouldn't have been through hell, and there's a way for me not to go through hell. That's to give someone in a 'he said, she said' situation where there's very little evidence a suppression order, like the female has got."

"It was horrendous and no one should have to go through it, so I want to change it."

John Jarratt has written a book about his ordeal called Assault By Media. It's available for purchase now.

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