Jessica Alba's horrific photo shoot (+video)

STITCHED UP: Jessica Alba dons a Hannibal Lector-style mask in this ad campaign to encourage people to vote in the upcoming elections.

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Jessica Alba has posed in a Hannibal Lecter mask in a bid to encourage people to vote in the upcoming American Presidential election.

The Fantastic Four actress is seen with messy hair, no make-up and tears running down her face in the shot by Mark Liddell which shows her mouth tightly hidden behind metal nails.

The photo is a reference to the cannibal character made famous by Anthony Hopkins in 1991 movie The Silence of the Lambs.

Jessica's photograph, a Declare Yourself public service announcement, bears the tagline: "Only you can silence yourself. Make them hear you. Register to vote now."

Jessica, who previously appeared in a raunchy bondage-themed advertising campaign for Declare Yourself, said: "If you don't register and vote and make a difference, and hopefully change the bad things that are happening in our country, you are essentially just binding and muzzling yourself."

The 27-year-old actress isn’t the only star to use her celebrity to persuade Americans to vote.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Halle Berry, Jennifer Aniston and Ellen DeGeneres are among those appearing in the 5 Friends PSA.

Explaining his involvement in the cause, Leonardo said: "I mean, seriously, after this whole video - if you're not going to vote, I don't even know what to say. You know you have to vote."

* Watch the 'Don't Vote' video below: