Reese Witherspoon on Her First PEOPLE Cover: 'It Was Surreal'
The actress was featured on her first PEOPLE cover while pregnant and promoting 'Legally Blonde 2' - and opens up for our 50th anniversary issue about that time in her life
Reese Witherspoon was pregnant and headlining a movie at age 27 when she also carved out time for her first PEOPLE cover story interview in 2003. “What, like, it’s hard?” she quips, quoting her Legally Blonde character Elle Woods. She quickly adds, “No, I can’t say that. I was exhausted!”
The Nashville native, now 48, went on to win an Oscar for her portrayal of June Carter in 2005’s Walk the Line and launched her Draper James line in 2015 and the media company Hello Sunshine in 2016. The mom of three (daughter Ava, 24, and sons Deacon, 20, and Tennessee, 11) reflects on her three decades in Hollywood.
What do you remember about your first cover story?
The reporter came to my trailer, and I was so scared. I said, “Please don’t write anything mean about me!” When I was on the cover, it was surreal—you can’t believe it’s happening. It’s like when your name is in a crossword puzzle. It’s because I have a lot of vowels in my name.
Is there a film of yours that means the most to you?
A lot of people come up to me about Legally Blonde. They tell me they went to law school because of it or say, “You made me believe in myself.” I can’t tell you how fulfilling that is.
It changed people’s lives. How did it change yours?
I was 24, and I had a 1-year-old, and all of a sudden, people knew my name everywhere I went. It was a complete life shift for me.
What excites you most about the years ahead?
Helping more young women find their paths as artists. I love mentorship, and sharing books with my book club community.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I worried a lot and maybe was a little too serious. Sometimes I was so serious about a part, it became comical. I would say, “It’s all going to work out!”
What do you cherish most about your female friendships?
One really pivotal part of my career is collaborating with other women. Whether that's working with Nicole Kidman or Jennifer Aniston or Oprah Winfrey or Kerry Washington or Laura Dern, I've been enormously blessed to work with these incredibly talented women who share their dreams with me, and we really carry a lot of water with each other, helping each other and supporting each other in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
Who do you lean on for support?
I have a wonderful team at my company, Hello Sunshine. I'm supported by incredible people who all come in with a big vision and a dream. We're very mission-driven to tell more stories for women, put women at the center of more storytelling in this world, because we have to see ourselves reflected on screen.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would say it's all going to work out. I worried a lot when I was young and I was maybe a little bit too serious, but maybe being a little too serious is what made me figure out how to be funny. Because sometimes I was so serious about a part, it actually became comical.
Credits
Photographer Art Streiber
Cinematographer Eric Longden
Set Design Anthony A. Altomare/Buffalo Art Co.
Makeup Kelsey Deenihan/The Wall Group
Stylist Petra Flannery/Pepper Style
Wardrobe Dress: Emilia Wickstead, Shoes: Santoni, Jewelry: VRAI x Petra and Meehan Flannery Collection
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