The actress stunned organisers of a tribute to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center as she appeared dishevelled and bewildered as she talked about her own TV experiences with military families.

She said, ""I've seen soldiers come home with painful life altering injuries borne of their time and service. I've attended numerous military funerals, including that of my best friend's son.""

She then explained to the baffled crowd that she was talking about her Army Wives character, adding, ""It's all make believe. I do that as a job. It's make believe. I have the luxury to do all of this on a television show.""

Delaney now admits she was having ""a bad week"" and ""wasn't feeling great"".

She tells Entertainment Weekly magazine, ""I was prepared, but it didn't come out that way. It was like the perfect storm for something to go wrong. And then it goes viral.""