Reese Witherspoon has come a long way from once working in commercials as a kid to being the recipient of several major accolades, including an Academy Win for Best Actress. Since her rise to prominence following the success of 2001’s Legally Blonde, Witherspoon hasn’t looked back, as she scored another Emmy nod for 2023’s Daisy Jones & The Six, in which she served as a producer.
Standing Up for Herself Changed Reese Witherspoon on a Cellular Level
During her appearance on Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations, Reese Witherspoon made an intimate revelation about her life after she was asked to detail her “most difficult decision”. Recounting the traumatic experience, Witherspoon recalled being stuck in an abusive relationship, which led to her self-esteem plummeting as a teen. But she eventually called it quits and stood up for herself after the line was crossed, which Witherspoon said changed her “on a cellular level”. She recalled,
“A line got drawn in the sand, and it got crossed, and my brain just switched, and I knew it was going to be very difficult, but I just couldn’t go any further. But it was profound, and I was young. Really young. … I was a different person too. It changed who I was on a cellular level, the fact that I stood up for myself. … Leaving those situations [isn’t] easy because it’s wrought with self-doubt, particularly if someone damages your self-esteem. … I didn’t have self-esteem, you know? And I’m a different person now.”
While Witherspoon refused to name her abuser, this didn’t stop fans from speculating, as her ex-partner Ryan Phillippe, who was accused of domestic violence by Elsie Hewitt, also came into suspicion. But considering the Legally Blonde Star stressed that she was a teen when the abuse ensued, it’s very much possible it occurred prior to her relationship with Phillippe.
Reese Witherspoon’s Past Struggles Served as the Motivation to Do Big Little Lies
Reese Witherspoon’s struggle with abuse in the past ultimately pushed her to produce the HBO hit Big Little Lies, which took a nuanced look at how domestic abuse can stay hidden from the public eye. Following the impressive acting from everyone involved, especially Nicole Kidman, accompanied by impeccable storytelling, it helped kickstart a conversation about the topic that is often avoided.
“There wasn’t a woman there that hadn’t been affected by abuse,” Witherspoon said of working on the show.
Had the Oscar winner never stood up for herself, things could’ve been astronomically different, which conveys the message that no matter psychological or physical, no form of abuse should be tolerated.
