NEW YORK, Oct 2, 2008 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Hollywood actress Jessica Alba is seen wearing a menacing-looking mask over her mouth in a new ad encouraging young people to express themselves by voting.

The 27-year-old actress, who has starred in the films "Fantastic Four" and "Sin City," is also pictured with tears streaming down her face in the ad for the non-profit group known as Declare Yourself.

"We recognize that to break through the media clutter and get young people to take action, we need to be edgy," Marc Morgenstern, executive director of Declare Yourself, told the New York Daily News. "Jessica has had a huge impact on our campaign already, translating already to literally tens of thousands of additional voters."

Alba was also seen in a previous ad with black tape binding her mouth. Her latest appearance features her wearing a mask similar to the one Anthony Hopkins wore as cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lector in "The Silence of the Lambs."

"People respond to things that are shocking," Alba told the Daily News.