VISTA, Calif. -- A woman who said she was repeatedly stabbed by a Hollywood actor in her San Marcos home took the witness stand again Wednesday to be cross-examined by her alleged attacker's defense attorney.

Shelley Malil, known for small roles on TV and in movies like "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," is accused of trying to kill his on-again, off-again girlfriend Kendra Beebe. The 45-year-old is charged with premeditated attempted murder in the Aug. 10, 2008, attack on Beebe, whose two children were in bed at the time of the attack.

Malil -- who also is charged with burglary and assault with a deadly weapon --- could face life in prison if convicted, according to prosecutors.

Beebe cried often during Wednesday's testimony and showed exasperation and shame as she was forced to re-live the terror of the attack and the aftermath.

Beebe was pushed hard by defense attorney Matthew Roberts about using a hoe against Malil during the incident. But Beebe said after the initial stabbing, Malil approached her with an even bigger knife.

"Actually, he'd gotten to me before on the patio three times. I see the hoe on the ground. I'm still bleeding on my side with a punctured lung. I pick it up and I'm trying to keep him off of me, from stabbing me. He got around me and stabbed me 20 more times," said Beebe.

She told of trying to talk her former boyfriend out of hurting her and doing anything to stop him.

"Because I got stabbed 25 times that night and it wasn't my fault. When he was stabbing me I told him I loved him, please stop."

Beebe was also questioned repeatedly about lying during depositions in her divorce case.

"I absolutely did it and I'm absolutely sorry and it's the only thing I lied about and it's being used against me in court for the past couple of years, just like it is now. But it had nothing to do with being stabbed 25 times that night," Beebe said.

"But the question is if you lied about that … the answer is yes," said Roberts.

"Yes," said Beebe.

Beebe tearfully recalled a hospital visit from David Maldonado, a friend who first tried to protect her the night of the attack.

"He came to the hospital and cried that he didn't save me. He felt so guilty and bad for what happened to me," said Beebe.

She told the court of the moment her mother told her nude pictures of her were sent to her employees by Malil following her release from the hospital.

"She said, 'There's something I need to tell you, and when she told me I was so humiliated … everyone saw those," said Beebe.

She said Malil was initially very sweet but that he was an alcoholic and had mood swings. She said her ex-husband added fuel to the fire.

"Shelley had nothing to gain. My ex knew Shelley's weaknesses and fed it. I feel like Shelley was pushed to the brink by Archer," said Beebe.

Beebe said her marriage and divorce were like going through hell and that she lied then for good reasons.

"But I'm here today telling the truth. I know I face penalty for perjury, but I lied in the depositions so my children wouldn't be taken away," said Beebe.