LOS ANGELES -- If topless Miley Cyrus is new, the sexualization of young women isn't.

Just ask Christina Ricci who played a rape victim in last year's Black Snake Moan only to be infuriated by a marketing campaign that portrayed her character as a cut-offs-clad, chained-up sex-bomb.

"The movie is all about the exploitation of this girl, this child, and the idea of the exploitation of women -- and then what do they do? They exploit the character who's a rape victim," says the still-peeved former child star. "The intention was to be very honest about what can happen to women and children who aren't treated and are used and dismissed as a slut and ignored ... I can't express my displeasure enough with that ad campaign."

Presumably she is more content with the promotion of her new family-friendly film, Speed Racer, which finds her far from the darker, indie-flavoured films she tends to be identified with.

"I've always wanted to be part of something that was big and fun and everyone would see. One of the problems with doing movies that are smaller is that you do a lot of work and not a lot of people see it. So the chance to have your work seen comes from being in big movies. I've been looking for something like this for awhile."

And it is perfect casting, says producer Joel Silver, noting Ricci's uncanny resemblance to her anime alter-ego. "She looks like Trixie."

Now 28, Ricci has been a cinematic constant since she was cast as Winona Ryder's younger sister in 1990's Mermaids. Since then her acting credits have ranged from The Addams Family and Casper to such adult fare as The Opposite of Sex, Sleepy Hollow, Monster and The Ice Storm. More remarkable than her resume, though, may be the fact she never segued into the cycle of rehab and scandals that vexes many tween-and-teen-aged actresses. For that, she credits her mother.

"My mother was a big asset to me. She was wonderful on set. Producers and directors loved working with her because she was very level-headed. She always said if acting became a disruptive thing in my life, we're not doing this anymore.

"She was very rational. She never got into any of the weird stuff stage mothers do. She taught me how to handle myself in a professional situation. She was a very smart woman and very good at navigating a professional world. She gave me all those tips and traits and smarts."

Qualities, adds Ricci, she would like to pass on to young women, whether it be as an advocate for feminist issues or simply making a big-budget entertainment like Speed Racer that, for all its cartoonish action, she believes can empower girls.

"I care very much about women's issues ... and want to be helpful to the cause -- whether it's making a movie that puts a spotlight on the effect of sexual assault on girls or whether it's playing a part like this -- which I think is a good character to have out there.

"So that if a girl is sitting with her brothers in the theatre, she can think, 'See, I can do everything the boys can do and I don't have to be a tomboy or a girly-girly. I can be whoever the hell I want to be.' (Trixie) is this ultimate feminist character because she's as girly as she wants but also capable of doing all that the boys do. And that's without it being wink-wink -- 'She's a girl and she's flying a helicopter.' She's a good role model for little girls. It's a nice image."