Reese Witherspoon opens up about feeling like she had “no control” over a sex scene in 1996’s ‘Fear.’
During an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, published online on Wednesday, the actress recalled an experience she had early in her career.
During the filming of the James Foley-directed psychosexual thriller, Witherspoon, then 19, had to film a sex scene on a roller coaster with the character of Mark Wahlberg, who was of great interest to her in the film. Though she recalls asking for a stunt double to take her seat for below-the-waist shots, she noted that she “had no control over it.”
“The script didn’t explicitly say that was going to happen. I think the director made that up himself and then on set asked me if I would do it and I said ‘no’.” She explained. “It wasn’t a particularly great experience.”
The film follows teenage Nicole (Witherspoon) as she falls in love with 23-year-old David (Wahlberg). But their relationship takes a turn when David reveals a darker side to him and becomes possessive of Nicole.
Witherspoon said she didn’t let the traumatic experience stop her from pursuing her goals. Instead, she said it helped her become the woman she is today — someone who fights for women to be respected and for their voices to be heard when it comes to getting projects done.
“I’m certainly not traumatized by it or anything, but it was formative,” the actress added. “It made me realize where my place is in the filmmaking pecking order. I think it’s another of those stories that made me want to be an agent for change and someone who might be able to take a better leadership role in telling stories from a female perspective rather than a male one.”
And that’s exactly what she did with her production company, Hello Sunshine. The media company has been behind several projects that have focused on female leads, including Big Little Lies, Gone Girl, Wild and Daisy Jones & the Six.
Later in the interview, Witherspoon also shared her thoughts on reviving romantic comedies and how confident she is that there will be more feel-good projects to come.
She most recently starred opposite Ashton Kutcher in Your Place or Mine and is also expected to star in and co-produce Will Ferrell in You’re Cordially Invited.
“I think the human capacity to deal with so much heartache and tragedy that’s happened in the world is really limited,” Witherspoon said. “We just can’t feel so overwhelmed by sadness and devastation.”
She continued, “I’m thinking of ways to make movies and TV shows that are upbeat, upbeat, funny — just plain funny.” I’m thinking about what I want to watch on a Friday night, and even though I’m a true crime series or appreciate a podcast, I really need some lightness. I think the world is looking for some brightness.”